SOUTH AFRICAN GEO-SPATIAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT STRATEGY (SAGIMS) 

The National Development Plan: Vision 2030 is a bold vision by the National Planning Commission to meet the proposed 2030 development goals as well as to provide a better future for all in South Africa. This must be done despite facing challenges such as poverty, inequality, unemployment, poor infrastructure, food insecurity, water scarcity and environmental degradation. Achieving a sustainable economic growth potential requires a balance between optimizing development opportunities and efficient utilization of scarce resources.

Meeting the 2030 development objectives requires leadership to drive implementation through meticulous planning, spatially informed decision-making and efficient management. Access to reliable geospatial information that can be used effectively to inform decision-making is therefore critical to address the development needs of our country.

The importance of the South African Spatial Data Infrastructure (SASDI) and the need to maintain an accurate spatial information base is not sufficiently prioritized. Yet, the role of spatial information, as a strategic asset, in support of spatial analysis and decision-making to drive national, regional and global development, cannot be underestimated.

The proposed South African Geo-information Management Strategy (SAGIMS), initiated by the Committee for Spatial Information (CSI), aims to position geo-spatial information as an enabler to assist government in achieving its development goals as outlined in the National Development Plan. The strategy will be developed through extensive consultation with government departments, industry, academia and other stakeholders across the geo-spatial community. At initiating strategy workshops four commissions (Policy, Data, Technology, and Capacity Building) were formed to drive the development of this strategy.

For further information on the South Africa's Geo-spatial Information Management Strategy, please contact maroale.chauke@drdlr.gov.za / nsif@drdlr.gov.za

To view the National Development Plan: Vision 2030, click here