Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) board chairperson Khungeka Njobe says the agency will soon issue a detailed update following a forensic probe into allegations of maladministration - nearly six months after the probe was concluded.
According to Njobe, internal disciplinary processes were under way, which led to delays in releasing the findings.
Allegations concerning procedural and governance matters surfaced early last year, after an external review by independent experts.
The TIA board received the allegations at its meeting in May and, after initial fact-finding, Njobe said at the time that several allegations required further investigation.
The agency's CEO, Simphiwe Duma, was suspended in October, when the probe concluded, although reasons for this were not made public.
Njobe notes that internal disciplinary matters are almost completed and the agency will soon provide more information concerning the investigation. "The board is meeting on Wednesday and we are hoping to finalise this, among other matters. I expect there should be communication in the next week or so," she says.
DA application
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) says it will submit an application through the Promotion of Access to Information Act in an effort to gain access to the TIA report.
In a statement released yesterday, DA MP and shadow minister of science and technology Junita Kloppers-Lourens says the report has not been tabled before Parliament, despite numerous requests to the TIA and the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
"In a reply to a written parliamentary question in October of last year, the minister of science and technology, Derek Hanekom, said there were no plans in place to table the report before Parliament," says Kloppers-Lourens.
According to the DA, both the TIA and DST insisted the report needed to be discussed with the science and technology minister, before being handed to Parliament.
"Failure to fully disclose findings contained in the report deprives Parliament of its oversight role and fosters a breeding ground for dishonest and wasteful administration; all at the public's expense," adds Kloppers-Lourens.
She notes the DA will push for the report to be tabled before Parliament, and called for Njobe and Hanekom to "act in an open, accountable and transparent manner so guilty parties may be held accountable".
The TIA falls under the DST and is involved with supporting of innovations throughout SA.
Some of its projects include technology for the commercialisation of animal health biotechnology products, electric car infrastructure, and advances in HIV treatment.
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