Bogoshi rubbishes 'advantage' claims

Johannesburg, 30 Aug 2007

GijimaAst's new CEO Jonas Bogoshi does not believe the company will have an unfair advantage in being awarded government tenders.

This is despite Bogoshi having, until recently, held an executive position with the State IT Agency (SITA).

Last week, ITWeb reported that a heated discussion around this issue had erupted on day two of SITA's GovTech conference.

SITA COO Noedine Isaacs-Mpulo denied this would be the case: "Bogoshi is a person of extremely high integrity. We are certainly not in the pocket of GijimaAst; there is a formal process [with any SITA tender], and that process is done by points."

Yesterday Bogoshi disappointed analysts when he said his experience with the government agency would not lead to the company having the inside track on public sector investment.

"SITA has, over the years... put in place many measures to ensure the fair and transparent appointment of tender winners. I am in no advantage in this regard. However, I do have a knowledge of government's pain points - which have been relayed to the broader industry - and I believe we can capitalise on that knowledge," he said.

GijimaAst's revenue contribution from the public sector has always been a top-of-mind question among analysts.

Last year, CFO Carlos Ferreira told analysts it was impossible to predict which tenders would go its way and when these would be awarded.

"We have a lot in the pipeline in the public sector. However, experience has taught me not to bank on their timelines," he said.

Bogoshi yesterday reminded analysts that the company's standing with SITA has always been good.

"We were doing well in the government sector well before I joined. I am confident GijimaAst has been and will continue to be one of government's leading ICT partners," he concluded.