South Africa: 100 to 120 people trained in use of Municipal Assistant system

“We trained 100 to 120 people in the use of the Municipal Assistant system in the 38 South African municipalities where it was introduced in the last two and a half years”, Mr. Dana Grobler said in an interview in Cape Town at the global World Water Day event and South Africa Water Week, 21-27 March 2011. Mr. Grobler represents WAM Technology cc, the developer of the Municipal Assistant. He announced that the system is now also being implemented in two pilot municipalities in Malawi and Zimbabwe. 

Q: What, when and who triggered the development of the Municipal Assistant system?

A: The Water Institute of South Africa (WISA) realized years ago that the sector needed a system for asset and operation and maintenance management. They contacted WAMTechnology, we had already developed IT systems for HIV and TB and hospital management for the South African National Department of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1995. WAM Technology initiated the development of  the asset and O&M management system for municipalities in 2005. It was first implemented in Mogale City Local Municipality in 2005.  The development process entails a generic learning and development of modules based on the needs on the ground in the water sector.

Q: What modules have been developed and are being used so far?

A: We started with modules on water quality monitoring and management, and asset management, and over a period of time added various modules, including soil monitoring, water demand management, budgets, fixed assets, vehicles, suppliers, literature, staff and skills, timesheets and a customer relationship module. A number of support tools were also added, including Wastewater Calculator and Conversions.

On 1 April 2011 we started a total programme update that will add a laboratory module and other functionality based on input we have received from users. After that results from the system can also be transferred directly to the Department of Water Affairs.

Q: Why is Stellenbosch being mentioned as a success story?

A: The national drive for municipalities in South Africa to qualify for the DWA Blue and Green Drop certifications for top service delivery is a powerful incentive. The political leaders of municipalities need a good operational system that can show good performance for their drinking water quality. The Municipal Assistant system helps the technical department to communicate monthly realistic status reports to the political leaders, such as Portfolio committees and Councillors meetings.  They can get an almost photographic audit of what the municipality achieves and does not achieve.

Q: How is the buy-in from other municipalities?

A:  In the last year or so WAMTechnology is being phoned two or three times per month by municipalities that want the system as well, although we are not marketing the Municipal Assistant actively. Based on his experience in Stellenbosch Ronald Brown in Drakenstein Municipality is passionate about getting other public service departments using the system. There are other examples of municipalities using the software for other departments.

Note: see for a separate interview with Mr. Brown the article Municipal Assistant system brings all information in one place

Q: What are the costs involved and how do you manage the system?

A:  The standard package licensing fee is R 18,500 [Euro 1,850] with an annual renewal of R 9,250. Standard training for master users adds roughly R3 400 per person for 2,5 days. The training is for operators involved in water quality and includes data entry. For department and plant managers the focus is on how they can generate useful management information reports.

WAM Technology has 17 permanent staff members. We operate an online Help line for users who have received training through which we get 15 to 20 calls per month. And that includes problems ranging from personal computers to highly technical issues related to industrial levies charged by municipalities.

Dick de Jong