Certain investigations into contracts and “issues” concerning the State IT Agency (SITA) are under way and could be jeopardised if they are revealed at a public forum, public service and administration minister Richard Baloyi told Parliament yesterday.
During the question and answer session, following the presentation of SITA's annual report to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration, Baloyi effectively deflected the politicians from questioning the state-owned entity about some of the issues that has brought it under the public spotlight.
“If we reveal what these investigations are now, then the kind of cover-up we will get will be extensive. I have warned SITA about talking about it now and I will be taking some parliamentarians into confidence,” he said.
Baloyi went on to commit government to rooting out corruption at all levels and pledged the process to appoint a new CEO for SITA would be completed by the end of November.
“We are also looking at a complete turnaround strategy for SITA. I don't like to use the term 'turnaround', because it often means you end up where you start, but we will fix it,” he said.
They also pointed out that SITA has had 14 CEOs in the 10 years of its existence and said they wanted to see its procurement policies in a written format.
Litho Suka (ANC) said, regarding the agency's procurement policies: “It appears that SITA has not played by the rules.”
Ebrahim Rasool (ANC) asked whether it would be better for government to decentralise its IT procurement. However, Baloyi rejected this, saying a centralised system made better sense.
Ena van Schalkwyk (DA) said: “I am worried about the leadership at SITA and that such a central organisation seems to be quite shaky.”
Government CIO Michelle Williams asked the committee for further opportunities to engage with it. Committee chairperson Joyce Moloi-Moropa replied that plans are under way for this to happen.
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