Madonsela to probe “Who Am I Online” project – report
Listed IT company, Gijima Group (GIJ), on Monday welcomed the public protector investigation into the transparency of the R2.3 billion “Who Am I Online” (WAIO) contract awarded to the group by the Department of Home Affairs.
The board of Gijima and CEO Jonas Bogoshi said they learnt via the City Press newspaper, that the Public Protector is investigating the awarding of the WAIO contract to the company. The group said that the article refers to a February 2009 report of the Auditor General that has not been made available to Gijima.
According to the City Press, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela has appointed a team of investigators to probe the project – which originally awarded for R1.9 billion in 2007, and escalated to R4.5 billion before being canned by the Department of Home Affairs in 2010.
The Department of Home Affairs settled out of court with Gijima in June last year for a loss of R389 million over the cancellation of the contract.
The contract awarded to Gijima was for the modernisation of the IT infrastructure and systems of the department. This included the re-engineering and digitisation of most of the national population register, including birth and death certificates; processing of ID and passport applications; visa and other permit applications; as well as enhanced movement control for South Africans and foreigners at the country’s borders.
“This matter has already been settled between Gijima and DHA in 2011, and all issues relating to the contract have already been aired. The board is confident that nothing untoward will be discovered. Gijima and its board will cooperate with the investigation in a transparent and truthful manner. Gijima is confident that the Public Protector’s investigation will exonerate both the company and its CEO,” the group said in a statement.
In August, Gijima pointed to a decline in full year revenue to R2.6 billion (R2.9 billion). EBITDA amounted to a loss of R211.8 million, from earnings of R285.7 million in 2010; and an operating loss of R258.2 million, from a prior profit of R241 million.
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