Gauteng SCOPA looking further into e-government tender allegations
The Gauteng Provincial Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) has welcomed Premier David Makhura’s decision to institute a forensic investigation into the alleged irregularities regarding the appointment of the service providers by the department of e-government.
According to allegations, the department used the coronavirus pandemic to rush through a big information technology contract without following proper tender processes.
The R30 million contract is to provide Gauteng’s e-government department with IT services, including cybersecurity and was reportedly concluded within 24 hours.
The investigation is set to be carried out by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU).
GPL SCOPA chairperson, Sochayile Khanyile, says he had previously raised the committee’s concerns with Member of the Executive Committee (MEC) for Finance, Nkomo-Ralehoko, and requested clarity following recent media reports.
“Based on the outcomes of the investigation, SCOPA will call the Department to account – with the purpose of providing recommendations to ensure compliance with the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA),” says Khanyile.
Khanyile added that the committee is assessing its course of action and the possibility of working with Chairperson of the Finance Portfolio Committee on dealing with the matter.
ALSO READ
Government welcomes the arrest of alleged fake news peddler
Birch appeared briefly in a Western Cape magistrates' court yesterday and is expected to return on 14 July. Birch has been charged in terms of the Disaster Management Act Regulation 11(5)(c). The act prohibits the publishing of information through any medium, including social media, to deceive people on government measures to address COVID-19.