A probe by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) into the beleaguered State IT Agency (SITA) is expected to be completed in March 2015.
SIU spokesperson Boy Ndala says investigation into suspected unlawful conduct surrounding SITA tenders has officially commenced, after being announced in September last year by the Department of Public Service and Administration.
SITA's board stepped down in November pending the investigation, and has been replaced with a new board chaired by former Business Unity SA CEO Jerry Vilakazi.
Every tender SITA has issued in the past nine years is under investigation by the SIU to determine whether any of its staff were involved in unlawful conduct or squandered the entity's money.
The SIU was mandated to investigate the agency through a proclamation by president Jacob Zuma in the Government Gazette. According to the proclamation, the probe will examine unlawful or improper conduct by anyone who could have caused harm to SITA, including members of the board, directors, officials and employees.
The investigation will build on previous investigations into the agency, but a wider scope will be covered.
In 2010, then public service and administration minister Richard Baloyi announced a three-year turnaround strategy for SITA that is expected to come to an end mid-year. CEO Blake Mosley-Lefatola - who in 2011 became the agency's 15th chief executive since its inception - told ITWeb in February that there will be no reason to extend the turnaround strategy, as practices and procedures have been established.
According to Ndala, the SIU is not in a position to report on any findings of the investigation at this stage, but he said SITA is giving its full support.
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