Babalo Ndenze 15 November 2024 | 16:05

'Deep-rooted corruption' at SITA could be 'tip of the iceberg', say MPs

The investigation by law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr looked into the billion-rand tender for the provision of Local Area Network (LAN) services to Western Cape Schools.

'Deep-rooted corruption' at SITA could be 'tip of the iceberg', say MPs

Picture: @sitasocltd/X

CAPE TOWN - Members of Parliament's communications committee said there’s "deep-rooted corruption" at the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) and there’s more to be uncovered.

They've also called for an inquiry into corruption and tender irregularities at SITA, which provides IT solutions to the government.

READ: R1.2 billion State Information Technology Agency tender riddled with irregularities

This followed a briefing by law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr on the irregularities it uncovered in its independent investigation into an R1.2 billion tender involving the Western Cape Education Department.

The investigation by the law firm looked into the billion rand tender for the provision of Local Area Network (LAN) services to Western Cape schools.

It found irregularities in how the bid was adjudicated by both the agency and the Western Cape government.

Committee member Tsholofelo Bodlani said this could be the tip of the iceberg.

"There is deep-rooted maladministration, there’s delinquency and I would love whether as myself as a member of the portfolio committee or as a collective that we institute an inquiry into SITA because what we are hearing here could really be the tip of the iceberg."

The committee noted the report and will hold a follow-up meeting with SITA to get a briefing from the board on the status of the tender, as well as consequence management.