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SA Communication Minister and Committee Chair Clash Over Sita Procurement Regulations
A fresh political storm is brewing in South Africa’s Parliament, as Communications Minister Solly Malatsi and the chair of the parliamentary portfolio committee on communications, Khusela Diko, find themselves in a heated face-off over controversial new procurement regulations affecting the State Information Technology Agency (Sita).
The row centres around Malatsi’s move to introduce regulatory changes that would allow government departments to bypass Sita when procuring digital services—an act Diko has condemned as legally problematic and politically reckless.
Speaking to Radio 702 on Wednesday, April 9, Diko accused Malatsi of once again overstepping his legal boundaries, despite the legitimacy of the issues he is attempting to address.
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“It is really unfortunate that we are back at this spot for exactly the same reasons – the minister seems determined to be legally delinquent,” Diko said.
She acknowledged that the frustrations with Sita’s inefficiencies are valid but stressed that any structural change must follow due legislative process.
“The minister has merit on some of the issues that he wants to address, and he is well within his right to do so. But the minister has to follow proper process and stick to the letter and spirit of the law,” she emphasised.
Diko insists that the Sita Act clearly mandates the agency as the sole IT procurement service provider for the government, leaving no room for unilateral adjustments by the minister.
Sita has faced increasing criticism for bureaucratic delays and inefficiencies, drawing frustration from various departments, including Home Affairs and Police, who blame the agency for project overruns and stalled service delivery.
Malatsi’s proposed regulations, which would decentralise procurement powers to individual departments, are framed as a solution to Sita’s inefficiency. However, Diko argues that the answer lies in reforming, not sidelining, the agency.
“There’s a simple solution—automate the procurement process. But instead, the minister is choosing to cripple the system rather than strengthen it,” Diko charged, suggesting the appointment of a new Sita board and executive team as a more constructive path forward.
She further warned that Malatsi’s actions risk undermining the state’s institutional integrity, a mistake South Africa cannot afford amid its ongoing efforts to rebuild government capacity.
Diko’s statement, shared on her X (formerly Twitter) page, triggered a wave of public commentary. Some users questioned her motives and impartiality, suggesting her criticism might have been muted had the minister not been from the Democratic Alliance (DA).
“Would you have responded the same way if an ANC minister had done this?” asked one user, @iTouchCandi.
Another, @Lizo Nyangiwe, a civil servant in the Western Cape, shared a first-hand account of delays caused by Sita:
“We have been waiting for more than two years for network points procurement. Sita does not have the capacity to cater for all these departments.”
Others used the opportunity to revive allegations of corruption linked to Sita under previous ANC leadership, further complicating the debate.
In a sharp rebuttal issued later on Wednesday, Malatsi described Diko’s accusations as “devoid of truth”, rejecting claims that his actions contravene legal provisions.
“These regulations are fully aligned with existing laws on government procurement and already have the concurrence of the Minister of Finance, as required by the Sita Act,” he said.
He also claimed that the regulations enjoy overwhelming support from ministers in the Government of National Unity (GNU) as well as provincial leadership across party lines.
“It is plain for all to see that this propaganda campaign is part of Diko’s political audition for a possible executive role. We see it for what it is, and we will not be distracted from improving the delivery of services to the citizens of this country,” Malatsi added.
As the showdown unfolds, the core issues at stake remain the same: service delivery, institutional reform, and legality. Malatsi appears set on pushing forward with the regulations, buoyed by executive and provincial backing. Diko, however, is likely to press for a more cautious, legally watertight approach, possibly foreshadowing parliamentary hearings or legal scrutiny.
