“The National Department of Health (NDOH) is under intense scrutiny after awarding a R122m contract to Brainwave Projects SA for providing satellite-based internet connections to 800 health facilities across SA,” reported News24 (17 Oct 2024).
According to the Auditor General’s (AG) report, Brainwave Projects SA was tax non-compliant at the time of its appointment. The NDOH also ignored regulations by bypassing the State Information Technology Agency (SITA), which handles government IT and telecom services procurement.
Meanwhile, many health facilities listed in the NDOH tender had already received internet connectivity services under an agreement between the Department of Communications and Digital Technology (DCDT) and YahClick, a subsidiary of YahSat.
NDOH spokesperson Foster Mohale stated that the department disagreed with the AG’s report saying the Department was forced to go out on its own tender due to delays in the SITA process.