Saving Taxpayer Money: How 'Start Where You Are' is the Best Policy for South African Government IT

Every Rand Matters in South Africa

Every Rand is an appreciation in South Africa. The taxes raised are supposed to affect the services and the flow of the country positively. This happens through the government's IT technology, not only within South Africa's boundaries but even in cooperation with surrounding countries such as Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria.

Starting from coal and mining infrastructure that links Southern Africa together to finance and HR infrastructure that supports projects in Southern Africa, Information Technology is what keeps it all going. Lack of functionality in IT infrastructure and wasting finances on inappropriate technological infrastructure affects everyone immediately. Transferring of funds gets delayed; production becomes sluggish; and service delivery goes down. Starting from coal and mining infrastructure that links Southern Africa together to finance and HR infrastructure that supports projects in Southern Africa, Information Technology is what keeps it all going. Lack of functionality in IT infrastructure and wasting finances on inappropriate technological infrastructure affects everyone immediately. Transferring of funds gets delayed; production becomes sluggish; and service delivery goes down.

The ITIL® 4 Foundation Principle That Matters

This is where one powerful ITIL® 4 Foundation principle becomes very relevant for South Africa and the wider African region: “Start Where You Are.”

Understanding “Start Where You Are” in the African Reality

“Start Where You Are” means understanding what systems, processes, and skills already exist before spending more money. Many South African government departments, public companies, and even regional organisations working with Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Nigeria already use SAP, legacy finance systems, payroll platforms, and service desks.

The challenge is often not technology. It is weak governance, rushed changes, poor training, and lack of accountability. ITIL 4 Foundation teaches organisations to first look at what is already in place, identify gaps, and improve step by step instead of replacing everything.

Why This Principle Protects Public Money

Large IT projects are risky, especially in the public sector. Buying new systems means new licences, consultants, training, and long implementation timelines. In many cases, the old system was never fully used or managed properly in the first place.

By starting where they are, government departments and SOEs can stabilise existing SAP systems, improve approval processes, and strengthen service desks. This approach reduces audit issues, prevents repeated failures, and saves taxpayer money that can be used for real development needs.

Lessons from Government, Public, and Private Companies

This principle is already used in many public and private organisations. Public companies like Eskom, Transnet, and regional utilities working across Southern Africa focus on improving reliability before adding complexity. Mining companies operating across borders, and private logistics firms connecting South Africa with Nigeria and Zambia, know that stable systems are better than constant change.

Government IT can benefit from the same mindset: focus on value, reliability, and control rather than expensive new tools.

ITIL 4 Foundation and Practical Improvement

ITIL 4 Foundation does not push big-bang transformations. It promotes realistic, continuous improvement. In environments where budgets are tight and skills are stretched, this approach works well.

“Start Where You Are” encourages teams to use existing data, fix current workflows, improve SAP change controls, and train internal staff. Incremental progress helps ensure a good delivery of services in all departments and in other countries too.

Improved Outcomes for Citizens and Regional Partners

The people demand that the services function, whether it is salary disbursement, procurement, or public reporting. The regional partners, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Nigeria, also benefit from the South African systems relating to trade, transport, and cooperation.

Where IT in governance is stable and organized, trust builds, costs come down, and services get delivered faster.

Conclusion: A Simple Rule with Big Impact

South Africa operates in a challenging economic and regional environment. Public money must be used wisely. The ITIL® 4 Foundation principle of “Start Where You Are” helps government, public entities, and private organisations make smarter decisions, reduce waste, and improve accountability.

It is not about stopping progress. It is about building on what already exists and improving with purpose.

How Prompt Edify Supports This Approach Through Training

Practical ITIL® 4 and SAP Learning for Africa

This is where Prompt Edify plays an important role. Prompt Edify delivers practical ITIL® 4 Foundation training aligned with real SAP usage, focusing on how systems are actually used in government, public companies, and private organisations across South Africa and the wider African region.

From Theory to Real-World Application

Instead of only teaching theory, Prompt Edify uses examples from mining, utilities, finance, and cross-border operations. Learners understand how to apply ITIL principles like “Start Where You Are” to SAP payroll, procurement, service desks, and change management. This helps professionals not only pass certification exams but also apply the learning directly in their daily work, protecting public money and improving service delivery.

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Learn ITIL® 4 Foundation with Practical SAP Training from Prompt Edify

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