The Auditor-General of South Africa is investigating software contracts, which were allegedly awarded without following proper procedures.
The Free State Social Development procured desktop management software from a company called Columbus in 2019. The software cost more than R2,6 million and the same company also procured another software in 2018.
AGSA is investigating this contract, but Step Up SA News has established that over 10 companies were invited to submit quotations and only Columbus responded in 2018 and in 2019 a submission was made by IT which was rejected by initially but was eventually approved when all right boxes were ticked.
Nelisiwe Ntombela, Acting Chief Director: Corporate Services confirmed all processes were followed: “yes, the Department followed SCM procedures.”
According to a source with intimate knowledge, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the alleged co-owner or employee of Columbus attends departmental IT meetings. “Claudious is always present when Columbus and EOH IT procurements are discussed with the Director: IT and Acting Chief Director Cooperative Services. This guy sits in meetings discussing work he is going to get hence his prices are always too high,” the source said.
In June Step Up SA News published an article showing Social Development procuring 20 laptops for R500 000 and this was then flagged by an audit committee on 3 December 2020. A month later, the same department procured 46 laptops for R880 000 meaning the price was dropped but the quantity was doubled.
Advocate Phahlo, Acting Head of Department said Columbus and the Department entered into two contracts “the Department entered into two (2) contracts. In 2018, the Department procured 1600 desktop management solution licenses through SITA Contract 1183. The request was made to replace an outdated and operationally inefficient helpdesk system that was developed using an old technology that had become outdated, not secure and unsupported by the Original Software Manufacturer. Additionally, there was a need to implement a system to ensure that all ICT related Service Level Agreements are monitored and the ICT unit responded to requests for service in a timely fashion.
In 2020, the Department procured 1300 Columbus Enterprise Suite and Spider IT Management Suite as add-on modules to the existing Columbus Spider Service Suite Desktop Management Solution. The associated cost implication included a once-off cost for the deployment, on-site training for ICT officials and annual maintenance fees.”
According to another source, these softwares are not implemented, but Phahlo disagreed.
“The softwares are implemented for their intended purposes. The first contract entered into in 2018, enables incident management i.e. ICT helpdesk. The second contract entered into in 2020 enables desktop support and deployment of software, remote control and patch management.”
Step Up Sa News has it on good authority that the SCM Director Mr Simon Thulo has since left Social Development and is now with COGTA and this was confirmed by Nelisiwe Ntombela: “ Mr Simon Thulo did not resign from the Department of Social Development. At his own request, and the subsequent approval of the Executing Authority, Mr Simon Thulo was transferred to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA).”
According to a source Simon Thulo was charged with the aim to “force” him out “Simon was targeted, he faced (6)charges including irregular expenditure. He was exonerated on the first (2) charges and labour relations could not proceed with others (4) because there was no case in the first place and he felt the only way out is leaving, he was severely compromised and there was nothing he could do because these people are politically connected, if you don’t do as they say you will be charged unlawfully.”
Our source continued: “there has been mass exodus of SMS and Middle management, the likes of Moahloli (CFO), Maureen (Director of NPOs), Lehasa and Khantsi have since left the Department and many are contemplating to leave the Department due to the arrogant nature of the Acting HOD always threatening people that he will charge them. Our Acting HOD is bullying staff and thrives on threats.”
Asked what the relationship between Columbus owner and Ms Nelisiwe Ntombela is as all these procurements started after she was appointed as IT Director and subsequently acting Chief Director, the Acting HOD said: “There is no relationship between Columbus owner and Ms Nelisiwe Ntombela.”
Responding to the acting period of Ms Ntombela the HOD said: “Ms Ntombela’s acting will end on the 30 June 2021” but Step Up SA News has since learnt that her acting has been extended to 31 December 2021.
A source within Human Resources confirmed the acting has been extended and Ms Ntombela is not paid for it but this is a political game “Yes I can confirm Ms Nelisiwe Ntombela’s acting as Chief Director Corporate Services has been extended and she is not paid, but this is part of the bigger picture.”
Asked what she meant she said: “the appointment of Adv Phahlo as Acting HOD was a calculated political move, they could have appointed the longest serving Chief Director: Districts and Institutions Ms Bessie Kgasane who is a Social Worker by profession, has Masters Degree and had acted as HOD under Me Ouma Tsopo but that would have meant she must be appointed permanently as she is the most experienced and qualified person and she has rich history having worked in national government as well.
With Premier Sisi Ntombela having said all (4) vacant HOD positions in Free State Provincial Government will be filled by women regardless of their skills, its evident her daughter-in-law is being groomed and has been given departmental bursary on two occasions to study and will eventually take over from Adv Phahlo, mark my words.”
Addressing women during the provincial health department’s celebration and honour of women in the healthcare sector on Tuesday, 10 August 2021, Premier Ntombela said vacant HOD positions will be filled by women regardless of their capacities: “the process to advertise those posts is already underway and ‘as a matter of fact’ women will fill those posts with capacity or not. Women continue to be overlooked for senior positions and women continue to be subjected to all kinds of abuse in their homes and in the workplace. The time for that to stop is now.”
Asked about allegations of bullying and mass exodus Adv Phahlo said: “the allegations has no merit, has no substance and are frivolous. The allegations are further malicious at the very least but misleading at most.”
The four vacant positions are at Treasury after Premier moved Mahlatsi to Health, Social Development after Premier moved Me Nthongoa to office of the Premier where is she is reported to be redundant, Roads and Transport after Premier suspended Matakati and it remains to be seen if Premier has already decided Matakati’s fate and Sports, Arts and Culture after Stanley Malope left and joined Free State Training and Development Institute(FSTDI).
Simon Thilulo did not respond to questions from STEP UP SA NEWS and referred us to the acting HOD.
This is a developing story.
The husband holds a similar position at FSDH it all runs in the family unfortunately the 1st is a chief of staff at FSAGRIC.