Did MEC Lesufi play a role in the awarding of a R30 million cyber security tender?

8 April 2020

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has learnt that the In2IT Technologies, one of the sponsors of the Moroka Swallows soccer club which is owned by MEC for Education Panyaza Lesufi, has been awarded a R30 million cyber security tender.

The DA has been reliably informed that the MEC for Finance, Nomuntu Nkomo-Ralehoko requested permission from the national Minister for Communications and Digital Technologies, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams to deviate from the normal procurement processes.

We have also been reliably informed that the company which won the tender was thoroughly prepared despite only having 24 hours to submit all the necessary documents.

It appears as if the Covid-19 pandemic was used to rush through the procurement process.

The DA calls on the Gauteng Premier, David Makhura to investigate whether proper procedures were followed in the awarding of this tender.

Should it be found that MEC Lesufi used his influence and position to help In2IT Technologies procure the tender, then the appropriate action should be taken against him and he must be removed from office.

Furthermore, the DA welcomes the swift action taken by Premier David Makhura to investigate the previous contract that was awarded for the outsourcing of its cyber security contract that led to irregular expenditure of over R100 million.

The DA will be closely monitoring the progress of the investigation into the cyber security contract and will also be tabling follow-up questions on the In2IT technologies tender.

Issued by Adriana Randall,DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Finance and e-Government, 8 April 2020