The Dark Underbelly of South Africa’s ICT Sector: A Web of Corruption and Cronyism
Behind the façade of tranquility, the ICT sector in South Africa is seething with corruption and cronyism. The latest batch of tenders reveals a web of intrigue, where the same players are awarded lucrative contracts, and the playing field is rigged against newcomers. The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) is at the center of the storm, doling out massive sums to favored companies, while the rest are left to fight over scraps.
The agency’s latest tender for the implementation of the International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) 2025 roadmap is a prime example of this. ICASA is seeking a service provider to update the IMT roadmap, develop and implement the IMT roadmap 2025 in alignment with the National Radio Frequency Plan 2021. But who will get the contract? The same old players, of course. The tender is a mere formality, a rubber stamp on the already predetermined winner.
And what about the Radio Frequency Migration Plan? ICASA is looking for a service provider to update the plan, develop and implement it in alignment with the National Radio Frequency Plan 2021. But will this be a genuine competition, or just a farce? The agency has a history of favoring certain companies, and it’s unlikely that this tender will be any different.
But ICASA isn’t the only culprit. The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is also embroiled in a web of corruption, inviting proposals from Microsoft-accredited partners to provide an enterprise project governance tool. But will this be a genuine competition, or just a way for SASSA to hand-pick the winner?
And then there’s Sentech, the broadcasting company that’s looking for a service provider to supply, deliver and commission a system upgrade using DVB SIS (single illumination system) on its DTT network. But who will get the contract? The same old players, of course. The tender is a mere formality, a rubber stamp on the already predetermined winner.
The ICT sector in South Africa is a mess, and it’s high time that something is done to address this corruption and cronyism. Until then, the same old players will continue to reap the benefits, while the rest are left to fight over scraps.