The State IT Agency (SITA) is no longer headless, but perhaps a whiter shade of pale. In fact, the agency this week finally made the long-awaited announcement that it has appointed a CEO - or grown a whitehead, so to speak.
In a move that is certain to draw large-scale industry criticism, SITA`s new head honcho is indeed a white head - a pale male by the name of Llewellyn Jones.
It only took 13 months for SITA to establish that a BEE candidate was either not available or too expensive - a decision that was staunchly defended by public service and administration minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi.
Suddenly, appointing a whitey to head an organisation - a government organisation, no less - is not so bad.
Indeed, Fraser-Moleketi said: "We needed to ensure that we got the absolute best person for the position. Looking at the composition of SITA`s board, executive team and workforce, I would have to say it is patronising to suggest the appointment of Jones cancels out the rest of the progress made at SITA."
This is great. Perhaps this is a sign that government is not too blinded by its retribution - sorry, I mean transformation - agenda that it can still recognise that a whitey could be of some use.
However, does this mean that industry at large should be allowed to (in some cases justifiably) side-step BEE appointments? Let`s face it, SITA is surely not the only organisation to have run into the problem of not being able to find or afford a suitable candidate of the darker persuasion. Just a thought...
But expect some double talk, double standard and goal-post shifting. Regardless, Jones (who`s pretty fly for a white guy) is an ICT veteran who has a solid reputation for getting the job done. We wish him luck.
Incoming...
Run for cover. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it`s Ivy!
Suddenly, appointing a whitey to head an organisation - a government organisation, no less - is not so bad.
Martin Czernowalow, news editor, ITWeb
This week, ITWeb reported that the Democratic Alliance dubbed communications minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri an "unguided missile". This is in reaction to the minister`s stubborn refusal to follow the Public Service Commission`s recommendations to investigate evidence of irregular appointments at the Department of Communications.
This follows a whistle-blower`s letter to the director of public prosecutions, alleging a senior official in the ministry was involved in "fraud and job piracy". In the letter, the whistle-blower noted the PSC had previously found that the executive had "erred" in the employment of four officials. Allegations are that the officials are now involved in the executive`s various scams.
Hang on, this government, right? Scams, erring, fraud, piracy... just business as usual.
But wait, I think I just figured it out! Naturally, Ivy is not too keen to probe irregular appointments, because it might mean that her appointment would be one of the first under the spotlight. After all, the minister has a reputation for doing little, understanding the telecoms industry even less and just being generally incompetent.
DA spokesman on communications Dene Smuts slammed the minister, saying: "Matsepe-Casaburri is simply not implementing recommendations. She seems to act as a law unto herself and an unguided missile. I intend to ask the committee to attend to this. The department is expected to appear before us this month and I intend to use this as an opportunity to tackle the matter and take it forward."
Poor deluded Dene. Such eloquent words, such a waste of breath.
Solidarity squares up to Telkom (kind of)
That group of well-spoken, polite Afrikaans gentlemen, collectively called Solidarity, has promised to take its case against Telkom to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.
These nice guys, who have never actually gone on strike, as far as I know (despite the occasional half-hearted threat) are unhappy with Telkom`s interpretation of an earlier wage agreement, which supposedly "deprives workers of part of their remuneration".
Now, unlike the militant Communication Workers Union, Solidarity is very accommodating. It has given Telkom until the end of the month to resolve the issue before it - no doubt - extends this deadline.
A union reluctant to strike? Well, I believe the problem is that Solidarity is predominantly a "white" union. As we all know, white men have no rhythm. Hence, strikes and the related endless toyi-toying must be avoided at all costs...
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