While various government-related IT initiatives are set to get off the ground in election year, it has not all been smooth sailing from a leadership perspective.
CEO shuffles in some organisations and suspensions in others have stalled progress on both direction and project delivery.
The following list includes organisations, a brief background, and the current state of leadership:
* SITA: The State IT Agency (SITA) has lacked longevity in its leadership structures since its inception in 1999. Freeman Nomvalo was appointed CEO in May last year, replacing Blake Mosley-Lefatola, who left eight months before his contract came to an end. Although reasons for Mosley-Lefatola's contract termination were not given, the decision was taken after SITA reviewed its strategic direction. Nomvalo is the 17th CEO in almost 15 years and is almost 10 months into the job, which tasked him with addressing unhappy clients, various unfinished projects, disgruntled employees and a probe by the Special Investigation Unit into every tender SITA has issued in the past nine years. Speaking early into his tenure at the helm of the agency, Nomvalo said he was determined to put SITA on a course that will deliver better results in future.
* Technology Innovation Agency: The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) was created in 2008 to stimulate technological innovation for economic growth. It is linked to the Department of Science and Technology. Allegations of maladministration led to a forensic probe at the agency in October last year, with CEO Simphiwe Duma suspended once the investigation concluded. The agency has yet to clarify who will take the helm as CEO moving forward. Meanwhile, national expenditure allocated to the agency is set to decline in the next few years. The Treasury's Estimates of National Expenditure notes transfers to the TIA will "decrease by R30 million in 2014/15, R50 million in 2015/16 and R50 million in 2016/17 due to Cabinet-approved reductions that are to be effected on account of slower than expected spending". Treasury notes, however, that service delivery will not be affected.
* Government CIO: The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) has yet to appoint a permanent government CIO - a position which was meant to be filled by last April. Walter Mudau, chief director of operations within the office of the government CIO, has been acting CIO since Michelle Williams resigned in April 2011. DPSA spokesperson Ndivhuwo Wa Ha Mabaya previously told ITWeb the department posted advertisements, but the quality of candidates was not deemed good enough. Also outstanding from the department are the completion of the Integrated Financial Management System and the release of a security framework.
* USAASA allegations: The Universal Service and Access Agency of SA (USAASA), which oversees ICT access infrastructure and initiatives, has not endured many top-level management shuffles in recent years, but has strongly denied alleged irregularities within the organisation. The Department of Communications led an investigation last year into allegations that USAASA CEO Zam Nkosi was irregularly appointed and, although findings were not made public, spokesperson Khulekani Ntshangase slammed accusations as "hallucinations". Nkosi still serves as CEO of USAASA, which continues cyberlabs projects across SA.
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