State Information and Technology Agency's leadership woes laid bare

HIGH vacancy rates, slow progress to deal with historic irregular expenditure and instability in leadership were among the key issues highlighted as plaguing the State Information and Technology Agency (SITA), according to the Auditor-General (AG).

- NICOLA DANIELS

The AG yesterday briefed the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) around its damning findings into the inefficiencies of SITA.

SITA has been under fire since it received another disclaimer audit opinion from the Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke.

A disclaimer outcome means that the same challenges were found as those with qualified opinions but, in addition, the entity could not provide the AG with evidence for most of the amounts and disclosures reported in the financial statements.

On top of the disclaimer outcome, SITA is also being investigated by the Public Protector after a member of the public flagged allegations concerning the irregular appointment of a former director.

The AG noted that SITA audit outcomes had previously been qualified, for several years, where recommendations were provided to senior management to rectify the weaknesses identified during the audits.