Sunday Times Daily reports that public benefit organisation Public Interest SA has written to the Public Protector (PP) requesting an independent probe to establish whether public procurement prescripts were breached during the procurement of IT services by the Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ).
This came after the Sunday Times revealed that three former top officials from the OCJ, who were crucial in arranging a R225m IT tender to multinational media and technology organisation Thomson Reuters, benefited from the deal. The three were named as former CFO Casper Coetzer, former spokesperson Nathi Mncube and former case management director Yvonne van Niekerk. The three are alleged to have started ZA Square, which is subcontracted to Thomson Reuters. Through their subcontract, they are set to earn 30% of the value of the deal, or at least R67.5m. It is unclear what work they have to perform on the contract. The OCJ issued a statement on Sunday saying it was “gathering all relevant information relating to the matter and seeking legal advice.” It added the following: “At the appropriate time, the OCJ will inform the public on the matter. We can assure the public that the state funds relating to this matter are safe.” However, Public Interest SA said this was not enough. In a letter addressed to the PP, the organisation said the OCJ had failed to commit to anything. It also said that an independent investigation by the PP would not only help further strengthen trust in public institutions, but also vindicate and safeguard inherent public interests in the matter.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Belinda Pheto at Sunday Times Daily
- Lees ook, Ondersoek geëis na ‘korruptes’ in hoofregter se kantoor, by Maroela Media
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