R12.1-billion wasted as government IT projects collapse

South Africa's Auditor-General has declared the State IT Agency (Sita) a 'systemic risk' to government IT, citing R12.1-billion in failed public technology projects. An audit of 191 government entities found overall decline in IT control environments, with 54% executive vacancy at Sita, 27 vacant CIO positions across government, and 41 projects failing to meet objectives on timelines, budgets, quality, and outcomes. Case studies reveal procurement fraud indicators, unapproved contract variations, and 18-month delays on a R1.1-billion network refresh project for South African embassies. The AG recommends repositioning IT from a support function to a strategic one, noting that digital transformation exists largely on paper.