The ANC in Parliament and Communications Minister Solly Malatsi are at odds over State Information Technology Agency (SITA).
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A growing rift has emerged between the African National Congress (ANC) in Parliament and Minister of Communications Solly Malatsi regarding the future direction of the State Information Technology Agency (SITA).
The ANC's Parliamentary Study Group on Communications has voiced strong opposition to Malatsi’s proposal to permit government departments to apply for exemptions from using SITA’s centralised procurement services.
In a statement, ANC Communications spokesperson Imraan Subrathie warned that decentralising procurement to individual departments could lead to the displacement of nearly half of SITA’s 3,200 employees, posing a serious threat to job security, economic transformation, and inclusive growth within South Africa’s ICT sector.
“This situation jeopardises economic transformation and job creation within the ICT sector and could negatively affect progress,” Subrathie said.
The tension follows Minister Malatsi’s recent appearance before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA), where he clarified that no departments have yet been granted exemptions—though he acknowledged the need for SITA’s operational improvements.
This is despite his belief that SITA can make improvements.
The ANC maintained that even the consideration of such exemptions runs counter to the broader objective of modernising and strengthening SITA’s business model.
Subrathie emphasised the urgent need for government to refocus on revitalising SITA, advocating for a strategic, inclusive approach that prioritises agility, responsiveness, and innovation in public sector ICT service delivery.
“Increased investment in SITA’s capacity-building initiatives and a SITA inclusive decentralisation approach is essential to achieving this goal,” he said.
Currently, SITA provides services to only 37% of government departments, with many managing their own internal IT networks. This fragmentation, critics argue, undermines the efficiency and consistency of public sector digital infrastructure.
Meanwhile, ActionSA stated it would not appeal to Minister Malatsi to intervene at this time, despite concerns over SITA’s governance and leadership stability.
Subrathie urged for a unified governmental effort to reinforce SITA’s institutional capacity and reposition it as a leader in ICT innovation, digital transformation, and service excellence.
kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za
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