Judging the Awards 2026

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08 days 22 hours 51 minutes 55 seconds
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JUDGING SITA AWARDS

How entries are judged

The Digital Public Service Awards are presented each year at GovTech, South Africa’s principal government technology conference. They recognise the institutions, enterprises and individuals using technology to improve how the state serves the public.

The three criteria

Every entry is scored against three criteria. The work. The difference it made. And a third criterion set by the category, which in most cases tests the contribution to South African digital capability.

Each criterion is scored from 1 to 5, giving a total out of 15. Scores are averaged across the panel.

Conflicts of interest

Panel members declare any relationship with an entrant before they receive entries, and are recused from any entry where a conflict exists.

The audit

Every score sheet is captured, reconciled and audited by an external accredited auditing firm approved by SITA. The decision of the panel, as audited, is final.

What the scores mean

  • 5. Outstanding.
    Among the best of its kind in the country.
  • 4. Strong.
    Clearly above what is typical.
  • 3. Solid.
    Does what it claims, and does it well.
  • 2. Promising.
     Early or partial, but real and worth recognising.
  • 1. Weak.
     Little substance, or too little information given to judge it.

Work that is early or partial is not penalised for being early. Much of the work these Awards exist to find is still being built.