The Information Technology Association (ITA) plans to meet with the State IT Agency's (SITA's) executive committee to discuss several concerns it has about the latter's way of doing business.
In light of the recent CEO debacle at SITA, the ITA is the second industry body to publicly voice concern about the state of SITA and seek active engagement with its stakeholders.
Last week, the Black IT Forum, led by chairman Mthunzi Mdwaba, sent a letter to newly-appointed public service and administration minister Richard Baloyi. The document airs the forum's misgivings about SITA's process to find a new CEO, as well as takes issue with various other matters related to SITA.
Mdwaba has been one of SITA's most vocal critics since the sudden resignation of the agency's CEO, Llewellyn Jones, who quit in July amid alleged government interference in SITA's tender process.
ITA president Adam Rabie, working with SITA board member Moses Mtimunye, has formulated several questions that he plans to pose to SITA's executive committee.
One of the ITA's functions is lobbying and negotiating at government level on behalf of its members, he explains.
“The ITA also has a responsibility to act as a 'watchdog' in the ICT industry; we have a mandate as per our constitution to represent, promote and protect the interests of our members; we promote good quality and standards in the industry, promote a code of good business ethics and governance,” he adds.
Rabie is hopeful of setting up a meeting between the management committee of the ITA and the SITA executive, or at least a representative of the executive committee, to discuss the questions raised by the ITA.
The questions
Some of the questions posed by the ITA concern the operations of SITA's procurement division, which was at the centre of the tender debacle that led to Jones stepping down.
“Why is it that it seems that the regulatory affairs and procurement division, especially since it is now a free-standing division, does not articulate about issues it faces and how such issues are being addressed?” the ITA asks.
It also asks questions about government CIO and SITA deputy chairperson Michelle Williams, who was embroiled in the Jones saga.
“On the e-government programme, it seems and the view of industry is the GCIO chose her own team from SITA and external individuals were appointed. Is this fact or not? Are these individuals employed by SITA or the DPSA?”
The ITA further adds: “It seems that at, the announcement, or the issue, of the e-government tender, not all the industry players were on an equal playing footing. It seems that other players may have had prior insights than others.”
The association also questions industry involvement in SITA's annual conference, GovTech. “To what extent can SITA confirm that the contributions, or non-contributions, of industry players to, for instance, the GovTech conference does not prejudice or advantage companies in the award or non-award of tenders?”
Rabie says the ITA aims to organise the meeting before the end of October, and a follow-up meeting might be scheduled for after the appointment of a CEO.
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