State Information Agency (SITA) CEO Blake Mosley-Lefatola's contract could be terminated eight months before it is due to expire, reports the Sunday Independent, citing two sources.
The company says two sources - one an insider at SITA and another government official - confirmed that board chairperson Jerry Vilakazi is in talks with Mosley-Lefatola over his contract ending early.
According to the paper, Vilakazi called a meeting with Mosley-Lefatola to inform him the board wants him removed as soon as possible, even though his contract is only due to end next January. Mosley-Lefatola decided not to fight the board on the matter, but rather negotiate an exit package, the report alleges.
The paper says Mosley-Lefatola confirmed the discussions with it, but said he could not divulge the nature of the talks until a decision has been made. He, however, emphasised the talks were not based on his performance. A decision is expected to be made "in the next couple of days".
In 2011, Mosley-Lefatola became the agency's 15th CEO since its inception, following a 2010 announcement of a three-year turnaround strategy that is expected to come to an end mid-year.
Unhappiness
Vilakazi told the paper the nature and outcome of the discussions will be revealed next week. He also said Public Service Administration minister Sita, Lindiwe Sisulu is well informed of all the issues at SITA and is constantly updated on the progress of the discussions. The department has oversight of the state's IT procurement arm.
According to one of the newspaper's sources, there is unhappiness among members of the board and other staff regarding the matter. The source reportedly said the unhappiness relates to how some government departments appear to have lost confidence in SITA.
The Department of Water Affairs has reportedely decided to handle its own procurement processes, creating the impressions that it does not trust the state agency.
Mosley Lefatola told ITWeb in February that the agency has made progress in cutting down on fraud and tightening supply-chain management since the start of a turnaround plan two-and-a-half years ago.
Almost three years ago, when the current executive team was appointed, the agency was in disarray. It had been plagued by a lack of top-level stability and had also been beleaguered by large-scale corruption and irregular procurement practices.
Every tender SITA has issued in the past nine years is under investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), to determine whether any of its staff were involved in unlawful conduct, or wasted the entity's money.
The probe, announced last year, was prompted by various earlier investigations, the Department of Public Service and Administration has said. It should be wrapped up in 2015.
SITA's board stepped down in November pending the investigation, and has been replaced with a new board chaired by Vilakazi, also former Business Unity SA CEO.
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