DA slates SAPS lack of electronics worth R2.17bn

THE State Information Technology Agency (Sita) has come under fire from the opposition for failing to provide value for R2.17 billion paid by the police to fix its communication network.

Opposition MPs questioned Sita’s lack of delivery of the proper network 15 years down the line.

But chairman of the portfolio committee on police, Francois Beukman, yesterday cautioned against making sweeping statements about Sita without delving into each project it had with the police.

Sita was in Parliament this week to brief the portfolio committee on its projects with the police.

DA MP Dianne Kohler Barnard said Sita had not delivered on the several projects it had with the SAPS to fix their communication network. She said the police had been talking about electronic dockets for 15 years, to avoid them being lost, stolen or sold by rogue cops, but nothing had materialised.

Kohler Barnard said there was no justification for Sita’s existence amid these failures.

But the ANC came to the defence of the technology agency, saying it had everything under control.

The agency was helping the police to set up a single electronic system that would connect all SAPS networks across the country.

The contracts Sita had signed with the police amounting to R2.17bn.

Sita did not assist only the police, but other government departments too.

ANC MP Leonard Ramatlhakane said Sita’s existence should not be questioned.

“The idea of creating Sita has never been a wrong one. You must differentiate between an idea and actual action,” said Ramatlhakane.

Police chief General Riah Phiyega said the criminal justice sector would continue to use the Sita platform.