The Department of Water Affairs (DWA) aims to recoup about R2.8 million from T-Systems, after allegedly being defrauded by a consultant employed by the outsourcing company.
According to DWA spokesman Linda Page, a T-Systems staff member, working at the department on its payment system, tried to defraud the department of more than R12 million.
Pono Senokoana, who has been charged with fraud in the Pretoria Commercial Crimes Court, only got away with R2.8 million before the alleged scam was uncovered, says Page.
Page explains Senokoana had been attempting to move money at various times and the activity was picked up through an internal audit.
Senokoana had been working on the payment system, but only had limited access rights, says Page. He requested a higher clearance level to perform his job, which he was given, and then started moving money into his personal bank account, she alleges.
Page says Senokoana has offered to pay the department back, but the DWA is pressing ahead with the fraud case. Senokoana appeared in court on 9 June and will appear again towards the end of next month.
The alleged fraudulent activity was traced through Senokoana's use of a unique password, explains Page. She says because Senokoana was seconded to the department by T-Systems, DWA has launched a formal claim against the IT company.
T-Systems is a division of German-based Deutsche Telekom. It has offices in 20 countries and more than 47 000 staff globally. The group turned over EUR9.1 billion in the 2010 financial year.
T-Systems' spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment.
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