ANC in Parliament: Minister Malatsi continues to be at odds over SITA’s future
The ANC’s study group on communications said it doesn’t agree with Malatsi’s plans to allow departments to apply for exemption from using the agency’s procurement services.
Solly Malatsi. Picture: X/SollyMalatsi
CAPE TOWN - The African National Congress (ANC) in Parliament and Minister of Communications Solly Malatsi continue to be at odds over the future of the State Information Technology Agency (SITA).
The ANC’s study group on communications said it doesn’t agree with Malatsi’s plans to allow departments to apply for exemption from using the agency’s procurement services.
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Last week, Malatsi told Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) that no department has been granted this permission yet.
But the ANC said even contemplating such regulations contradict plans to improve SITA’s business model.
In a statement, the ANC said allowing departments to procure IT services independently of SITA could result in job losses for almost half of its more than 3,000 employees and ultimately collapse the agency.
Head of the communications study group, Member of Parliament (MP) Imraan Subrathie, said the party would rather want the government to prioritise revitalising SITA’s business model.
While Action SA has questioned the viability of SITA following a disclaimed audit opinion, Malatsi says he believes SITA can make improvements.
“If SITA fixes the issue of turnaround, the proactive element in engaging its clients to ensure that you don’t wait for some of the service deficiency and lapses to occur before reacting to that, I think it will go a long way, in maintaining the client relations.”
Despite the minister of home affairs indicating he’s first in line to sever ties with the agency, Malatsi said this has not yet happened.
“We haven’t been served with any divorce papers or otherwise.”
SITA has told Parliament it only services around 37% of government departments, with most taking charge of managing their own internal networks.