Share

SAP to pay back another R81 million linked to 'unneccesary' govt contracts

accreditation
0:00
play article
Subscribers can listen to this article
Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The South African operations of German software giant SAP have been ordered to pay another R81 million linked to corrupt contracts to the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS).

The payments related to the sale of SAP software licences and support contracts to the department in 2015 and 2016. An investigation conducted by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) found both contracts to be unlawful.

The unit found that the December 2015 contract was signed despite there being no need for it. A previous agreement concluded in 2012 with SAP was only set to expire at the end of December 2016, meaning it had a year left to run.

In addition, the multimillion-rand contract had not been budgeted for by the department and payments to SAP had not been approved.  

In 2016, meanwhile, the department secured additional licences from SAP. The contract was signed despite the department's chief information officer saying there was no need for the licences. 

The SIU said that the two contacts also contravened a host of Treasury and departmental regulations about how contracts must be signed or extended.  

In its application to the Special Tribunal - which hears cases brought by the SIU - the SIU said that the department had received no benefit from the contracts as they had never been implemented. 

Following the SIU's probe, the department and SAP agreed to annul the contracts. This was later made an order of court. 

In March, the Special Tribunal ordered SAP to repay the department R413 million. SAP disputed an amount of around R83 million for third-party costs it incurred.

READ | New evidence points to corruption in SAP's R1bn water deals

The tribunal has now confirmed that it needs to pay this amount within five days of the order. 

In response to a request for comment, SAP said on Monday that the announcement by the SIU is the "conclusion of the full settlement". 

It said that the Department of Water and Sanitation remains an SAP customer and that it was continuing to supply and maintain the department's software. 

A separate criminal investigation to DWS employees who may have received kickbacks is under way.



We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
18.79
+1.2%
Rand - Pound
23.47
-0.2%
Rand - Euro
20.11
-0.1%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.28
-0.3%
Rand - Yen
0.12
-0.2%
Platinum
924.10
0.0%
Palladium
959.00
0.0%
Gold
2,337.68
0.0%
Silver
27.19
-0.0%
Brent Crude
89.50
+0.6%
Top 40
69,358
+1.3%
All Share
75,371
+1.4%
Resource 10
62,363
+0.4%
Industrial 25
103,903
+1.3%
Financial 15
16,161
+2.2%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders