Minister begs for time

Johannesburg, 19 Sept 2007

Public service and administration minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi has asked for patience regarding the appointment of a CEO for the State IT Agency (SITA).

The agency has been without a permanent CEO since May, when ex-CEO Mavuso Msimang left to take up the post of director-general of the Department of Home Affairs. Msimang is understood to have notified the organisation's board in September last year of his intent to step down.

Non-executive board member Peter Pedlar has held the top post in an acting capacity since Msimang's departure.

Speaking yesterday at the release of SITA's 2006/07 annual report, Fraser-Moleketi noted negotiations were taking longer than hoped.

"At GovTech I said we would announce a new CEO in September. However, I need to extend the timelines, as the negotiations are very difficult. We have to apply rigor to the appointment process as we want to ensure that we get it right," she explained.

ITWeb previously reported that the three candidates short-listed for the post had either declined or been deemed too expensive.

At the time, two independent sources said the contenders were former MTN MD Maanda Manyatshe, former Cell C service provider turned BEE investor Vincent Raseroka, and Independent Electoral Commission standing chief electoral officer Pansy Tlakula.

Fraser-Moleketi still declines to reveal the candidates the organisation is speaking to. She also said she would not be "foolhardy" again and put a deadline on the appointment.

"All I can say is that it is going to take a little longer," she concluded.