The head of the State Information Technology Agency (Sita) has admitted that tender procedures were flouted on multi-billion contracts awarded to four companies to modernise the home affairs identification systems.
Sita Chief Executive Officer Llewellyn Jones told the National Assembly's portfolio committee on home affairs on Thursday that proper procedures were not adhered to when combined contracts worth more than R3,4-billion were given to the IT firms.
Jones was briefing MPs about procurement processes of IT projects for the department of home affairs.
The whole saga was triggered by the R1,8-billion contract that was awarded two years ago to GijimaAST, and the costs have since escalated to more than R2,4-billion.
Jones informed MPs of the processes that had been followed to award tenders to companies GijimaAST, New Dawn (R1,2-billion), Valor IT (R118-million) and Ideco Group (R47-million).
ANC MP Kgosi Morwamoche asked whether procedure was followed.
Jones said that procedure was not followed when constituting the tender committee, and that Sita and the Public Service were revising tender processes to avoid a situation where laws were flouted.
Portfolio committee chairperson Patrick Chauke warned Jones that he should only reveal the details in a closed meeting next week.
Chauke said they had information about corruption, and "we will be calling a number of witnesses".
MPs questioned Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi's intervention a fortnight ago to bar Sita from appearing before the committee.
ANC MP Piet Matebe told Fraser-Moleketi that her behaviour was disappointing.
Fraser-Moleketi said that, as the executing authority of Sita, she had wanted to brief the committee first.
"I did not imply that there is a problematic relationship between the committee and Sita. I also said it will be incorrect to suggest that there is a blocking of Sita to be in parliament," Fraser-Moleketi said.
The committee has raised serious concern about possible corruption in the tender process to National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete.
Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has asked Auditor-General Terrence Nombebe to investigate all processes related to the awarding of the GijimaAST contract.