CSC in a spot of bother

This week, ITWeb broke the news that Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), which has for some years enjoyed a close relationship with the Old Mutual Group, is not in the running for the renewal of the financial giant's IT outsourcing contract.

While officially unconfirmed as yet, sources say CSC did not make it onto the final shortlist, and the biggest outsourcing deal in the history of SA's financial sector will eventually go to either IBM or T-Systems.

This causes a slight problem for CSC, whose major local revenue driver has been the Old Mutual deal, accounting for about 90% of its earnings.

But a black knight in shining armour seems to have come to its rescue.

On Wednesday, ITWeb reported CSC had sold a 30% equity stake to a black economic empowerment consortium - a move which the company hoped to keep under wraps until an official announcement is made within the next few weeks.

Within the context of the proverbial poo that CSC finds itself in, the BEE transaction was somewhat of a departure from the norm. A source was quoted as saying CSC's woes have, in fact, made it a more attractive target for the BEE consortium led by Lechabile and Digital IQ, no doubt bringing down the price. In return, the company could reap benefits from its empowered status.

Software Futures this week made news again, as IndigoCube purchased the company's consulting business, in a buyout by past and present management.

Software Futures is under curatorship as part of a larger investigation into the management of investor funds at parent company Fidentia.

On Tuesday, it was reported government has committed itself to an "aggressive" drive to stamp out the country's skills crisis.

Finally, someone has had the balls to bitchslap Telkom.

Martin Czernowalow, news editor

Speaking at a conference, deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said the department of education would offer schools incentives for graduates of maths on higher grade. It was also announced that government would set up an ICT institute.

Unfortunately, apart from these startling announcements, Mlambo-Ngcuka refused to elaborate. Maybe it's a secret. Maybe it's so secret that Mlambo-Ngcuka herself doesn't know any more than that. Maybe she is just clueless. Maybe sweeping, hollow statements such as these will just not do.

Finally, someone has had the balls to bitchslap Telkom. It emerged this week that the City of Cape Town rejected the fixed-line monopoly's objection to the awarding of the R32 million Smart Cape wireless tender to MTN Network Solutions and Cornastone Enterprise Systems.

Telkom whined that it did not make the shortlist after the request for information stage of the tender. Subsequently, (surprise, surprise) it did not make it onto the shortlist of six tenderers who were asked to respond to the request for proposals.

Oh the outrage, the horror! How dare you not give it to Telkom?

The good news is that the city will no longer pay an annual bill of R100 million to Telkom. The bad news is that the network deployment has been held up by at least four months due to Telkom's baseless gripe. Good going, fools!

Guess what? eNatis is still in the news. ITWeb reported the Democratic Alliance (DA) wants the auditor-general's report to be made public. The DA claims transport head honcho Jeff Radebe has now had it for a week, which should have been ample time for him to read it.

By the way, maybe this is why Radebe and co seem determined to ensure the report does not leave his bedside table: it highlights that the three transport department officials, in charge of the eNatis implementation, did not have the competence or qualifications to do so. Funny that.

While two have left, project manager Werner Koekemoer had been promoted to director at the transport department. Naturally.

On Friday, ITWeb reported that Tasima, the bunch responsible for the eNatis mess in the first place, has had its maintenance contract extended for up to 12 months. Again, this makes perfect sense.

Why stop here? Let's promote Radebe to president.