Where is 'Who am I' report?

By Paul Vecchiatto, ITWeb Cape Town correspondent

Cape Town, 24 Nov 2008

The auditor general (AG) has still not delivered the report on the awarding of the multibillion-rand “Who am I” project, says home affairs DG Mavuso Msimang.

Speaking to ITWeb after a media briefing in Parliament on Friday, Msimang said the office of the auditor general was supposed to have already finalised its report. He added that he was disappointed it had not yet done so.

“We are paying them to do the report, because we want the issue to be cleared up properly. However, without the report, the allegations of impropriety over the issuing of the tenders and the cost of the project will continue,” he said.

The project was awarded to a consortium headed by GijimaAst, in October, last year. It has since faced persistent allegations of irregularities surrounding the processes followed to award the deal.

Home affairs minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula referred the deal to the AG, after politicians raised concerns about the deal in July.

The project has been touted as a key component in the home affairs department's turnaround strategy. The initiative also forms a major part of government's preparations for the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

Home Affairs department spokesperson Siobhan McCarthy previously said Mapisa-Nqakula referred the matter to the AG, despite the department's belief that the deal was “clean”.

Msimang on Friday also complained that an official from the AG's office told Parliament there was difficulty in getting the relevant tender documents from the department.

“In fact, the DHA has nothing to do with the tenders. That is a SITA [State IT Agency] function and a letter of apology was subsequently sent to Parliament stating that,” he said.