In a shock move, State IT Agency (SITA) CEO Llewellyn Jones has resigned, just less than a year after being appointed to head the state IT services provider.
Sources say that Jones tendered his resignation last Thursday, just days ahead of SITA's GovTech conference, which kicks off in Durban this morning.
It is understood that public service and administration minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, whose department oversees SITA, has called an emergency board meeting, immediately after the start of the conference this morning, to discuss the resignation.
SITA has not announced the resignation publicly, and appears to be putting forward a "business as usual" front at GovTech - an annual high-level event for the local IT industry. Jones is attending the conference and is scheduled to present during the course of the week. However, his resignation is threatening to overshadow the conference and sources believe it could throw SITA into turmoil.
This morning, SITA GM for corporate communications Elton Fortuin released a brief statement: "There is a discussion currently under way between SITA management and the board over issues of authority and roles. Since these discussions are ongoing, we are not in a position to predict the outcome."
He would not be drawn on further details at this stage.
Tensions
Fraser-Moleketi is expected to attempt to dissuade Jones from quitting during today's board meeting, and to diffuse tensions between the CEO and her department, which are said to have lead to his resignation.
Sources close to SITA claim that Jones's resignation was caused by a rift between him and a high-ranking government official and member of the SITA board. It is alleged that the official had interfered with the awarding of e-government tenders by SITA.
Jones, an industry veteran who previously held positions with Altech, Alcatel Altech Telecoms, Plessey SA and Tellumat, was appointed to the SITA top spot in October last year. He replaced Mavuso Msimang, who left the agency in May 2007, to take up the position of Home Affairs director-general.
At the time of his appointment, Fraser-Moleketi said Jones is the best person to steer the agency and said he "has the experience, expertise and insight to take SITA forward as it undergoes its transition to primary systems integrator for government".
Jones was not available for comment this morning, as he was presenting at the conference. Attempts to reach other SITA board members this morning proved unsuccessful.
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