Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) at the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Sochayile Khanyile has welcomed the announcement by Premier Makhura to institute a forensic investigation into the alleged irregularities on appointment of the service provider for the Gauteng Security Operations Centre by the Department of e-Government. The investigation is set to be carried out by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU).
The Legislature had resolved in December 2019 for the Gauteng Department of e-Government to “fast track the finalisation of the contract on the Security Operation Centre (SOC) and provide the Legislature with a progress report every quarter and continuing up until finalisation thereof”. The Legislature’s resolution was informed by SCOPA’s concerns about the month-to-month contract on the Security Operation Centre which continued to incur irregular expenditure.
SCOPA was expecting the progress report from the Department by end of March 2020. This was prior to the declaration by President Ramaphosa of the 21 days national lockdown. Khanyile had previously raised SCOPA’s concerns with MEC of Finance, Nkomo-Ralehoko and requested clarity following recent media reports on the alleged irregularities in the processing and approval of quotations for the 12 months contract.
Khanyile has indicated that SCOPA will request a report from the Premier on the progress of the forensic investigation. Furthermore, based on the outcomes of the investigation, SCOPA will request the Department to account on the findings – with the purpose of providing recommendations to ensure compliance with the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).
In the meantime, SCOPA is assessing its course of action and the possibility of working with Chairperson of the Finance Portfolio Committee Hon. Joe Mpisi on dealing with the matter.
ISSUED BY GPL’S MEDIA SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ACCOUNTS, HONOURABLE SOCHAYILE KHANYILE
For interview requests with the SCOPA Chairperson please contact: Ms Pfano Bulasigobo on 060 533 1982 email: PBulasigobo@gpl.gov.za
