By OBAKENG MAJE
13 February 2025– The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies said it has noted with serious concern ongoing governance challenges and allegations of maladministration at the State Information Technology Agency (SITA). The committee received an update on governance at SITA after the end of the contracted terms of the Board of Directors and the Acting Managing Director in January and February 2025 respectively.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Khusela Diko said the committee also considered its own oversight report developed following an emergency intervention oversight visit to SITA in December 2024.
Diko said while the committee welcomes the Public Service Commission and the Public Protector’s investigations into board infighting, mismanagement and lapses in accountability and decision-making at SITA, it has also consulted with Parliamentary Legal Services to seek guidance on the desirability of implementing Section 227 (1) (c) of the National Assembly Rules to institute a parliamentary enquiry into SITA’s affairs.
“In line with Parliament’s full legal authority to conduct its own investigations and cognisant of the doctrine of separation of powers, such an enquiry would focus on the staff concerns.
“They have raised organised labour with the committee, the high staff turnover at executive level, and the governance and operational inefficiencies that have led some government departments to consider applying for exemption from using SITA as the government’s preferred partner for the delivery of information and technology solutions,” she said.
Diko further said the committee’s oversight report on SITA adopted on 12 February 2025, contains recommendations, which the Minister is expected to respond to and implement following the National Assembly’s adoption of the report. She added that these recommendations include, amongst other things, referring to the Cliff Decker Hofmeyr report on the Western Cape Education Department’s awarding of an allegedly irregular tender worth R1.2bn to the Special Investigating Unit.
“Other recommendations relate to developing interim measures to ensure there is no governance vacuum, while a new board and managing director is appointed and establishing whether it is desirable to pay fees to members of the board, who were relieved of their duties by Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technology Mr Mondli Gungubele when he was the department’s Minister, and who are thus of no service to the agency.
“We welcome the department’s assurances that the process of appointing a new Board is at an advanced stage, with the cabinet currently considering the appointment of an Interim Board.
The Guardian 