Corruption in the ICT sector
The priority crime investigation unit of the South African Police Service, the Hawks are currently investigating a number of high profile entities in the ICT sector.
Such investigations include the country’s most valuable telecoms operator, MTN, as well as communications minister, Dina Pule, who is being probed by the Public Protector.
Indeed, the Hawks are even investigating allegations of corruption within the SA Police Service information communication technology (ICT) division, itself, since May.
The department is believed to have had a budget of approximately R2.6 billion for technology, as allocated under the Technology Services Management (TMS) division.
Speaking in the National Assembly during debate on his budget vote, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said he had, in the past two years, emphasised the need to look at policing more smartly and the need to get value for money from the amount spent on technology.
“However, allegations of tender mismanagement, irregular expenditure, and lack of return on investment have been brought to my attention,” he said.
Mthethwa instructed the Hawks to conduct a comprehensive investigation into allegations of corruption in the TMS environment.
Major General Meiring, head of commercial crime, confirmed to BusinessTech that the DCPI (Hawks) is conducting an investigation involving the Technology Management Services (TMS) Division of the SAPS.
“The investigation is sub-judice and we cannot provide a time frame for completion of the investigation,” he said.
MTN
The elite crime-fighting unit is currently investigating MTN on allegations of corruption relating to its license in Iran.
Hawks spokesperson McIntosh Polela told BusinessTech several months ago: “We have received information regarding allegations of corruption at MTN. We conducted an enquiry phase, to test these allegations, and have decided to conduct an investigation.”
MTN is embroiled in a $4.2 billion lawsuit with Turkish mobile operator Turkcell having been accused of bribing its way to the Iranian licence and alleging human rights abuses. MTN denied the charges.
The investigation is expected to take some time, as part of it is being conducted outside South Africa.
Dina Pule
Under the Public Protector Act, the Public Protector is also to investigate the possible conflict of interest of Dina Pule at the ICT Indaba.
DA Shadow Minister of Communications, Marian Shinn, questioned whether the minister abused her position of authority over companies in the ICT industry to enrich a close personal friend.
The Sunday Times and the DA, itself, reported that money allocated to the ICT Indaba in June were handled “improperly”.
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