Jimmy Wales, co-founder of online encyclopaedia, Wikipedia, is expected to be the headline speaker at the 7th annual GovTech 2012 conference, which kicks off today.

GovTech 2012, which is an initiative of the South African State Information Technology Agency (SITA), could this year place the spotlight on the collaborative use of ICT in the delivery of citizen-centric services.

Mbali Zibi, conference spokesperson, also confirmed that Lindiwe Sisulu, minister of public service and administration would play host at the event, which ends on Friday.

“At GovTech 2012 we will also be presenting SITA's e-Disclosure solution, this is an electronic register of declarations of financial interest made by members of the senior management services,” said Zibi

"In accordance with the Public Service Code of Conduct, senior managers in the public service are required to annually declare their financial interests in any business that provides products or services to the South African government,” he explained.

SITA officials are also expected to announce the winner of the Lethla la Diakanyo Software Development Challenge, a competition that was open to all South African citizens to create a new application for use by government and the citizens.