Justice Minister Kubayi backs new regulations exempting govt depts from using SITA for technology needs

CAPE TOWN - Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi is looking to break her department's reliance on the State Information Technology Agency (SITA), describing the systems as its weakest link.

Kubayi told Parliament's portfolio committee that she was in support of new regulations introduced by the communications minister to exempt state departments from using SITA for the department's technology needs.

The regulations have been a source of friction between Minister Solly Malatsi and the African National Congress (ANC) in Parliament, which doesn’t believe departments should be allowed to outsource their information technology needs.

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Justice Minister Kubayi said that her department's information technology shortcomings were breeding a culture of unprofessionalism.

It was also a setback in the department digitising and modernising its systems.

"Where you are asking for accountability and people tell you the server was done, the emails were not working, it gives a way to run away from doing their work."

Kubayi said that she was all for the regulations that would allow the department to use external service providers that were also providing services which were cheaper than those offered by SITA.

"They are now putting on their own mark-up, topping up 15%, whereas they are going for expensive products, and when you look at it, it’s just not acceptable."

Malatsi gazetted regulations in May that set out the conditions for departments to opt out of using the state information technology company.