Thomson Reuters calls for retendering of R225m IT contract

• Published date: 20 September 2022
• Publication title: SowetanLIVE (Johannesburg, South Africa)

"Similarly, Thomson Reuters is also seeking legal advice in relation to the termination of the contract with the OCJ's former senior officials," it said on Tuesday

The company said there had been questions raised about the R225m contract it was awarded by the OCJ for the provision of its evidence sharing solution, CaseLines, and the actions of the OCJ's former senior officials.

Sunday Times reported in June that three former OCJ officials were accused of corruptly setting themselves up for a large slice of a R225m IT contract after they helped to strike the deal.

They are former CFO Casper Coetzer, former spokesperson and chief director of court administration Nathi Mncube and former case management director Yvonne van Niekerk. They resigned in May and took their jobs as local partners to Thomson Reuters.

Through their subcontract they were set to earn 30% of the value of the deal, about R67.5m. It is unclear what work they have performed on the contract.

Thomson Reuters announced it had launched a formal investigation to understand the facts, during which all work with the subcontractor, ZA Square, was put on hold.

On Tuesday, Thomson Reuters said it had not paid Coetzer, Mncube or Van Niekerk nor received any payment from the OCJ for the CaseLines contract.

The company said CaseLines has facilitated access to justice and the smooth running of the high courts in Gauteng since 2019.

It said to ensure continued...