The commission of inquiry into criminality, political interference, and corruption in the criminal justice system, chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, has secured an integrated cybersecurity solution to resist foreign intelligence agencies’ hackers.

Earlier this month, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development announced its intention to appoint a qualified service provider to offer an integrated cybersecurity solution that will be capable of resisting hacking attempts by intelligence services and providing end-to-end security.

The department stated that the services are necessary to ensure that the commission’s operations are supported by a comprehensive cybersecurity offering that maintains the highest standards of accuracy, confidentiality, and accountability.

Additionally, the comprehensive cybersecurity solution needed to be capable of resisting sophisticated hacking attempts, including those by State-level or intelligence-grade actors, with support for the department for six months, the commission’s scheduled duration.

However, Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi this week indicated that secure information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, searchable forensic data storage, cybersecurity solutions, and integrated e-mail/website services were at the procurement award stage and would be made on Tuesday, August 26.

Documents show that Sandton, Johannesburg-based ICT solutions and integration provider, Ekwantu Consulting, was awarded the contract, which also includes the integration of forensic analysis software. Ekwantu Consulting beat six other companies to secure the deal.

Also appointed this week is Randburg, Johannesburg-based ultra-modern internet and voice service provider, Mubvumela Corporation, for the outright lease of secure internet connection services for the two commissions of inquiry at separate Gauteng sites, costing just under R1 million.

The company will operate at the Justice Madlanga-led commission at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria, as well as the commission of inquiry to determine whether attempts were made to prevent the investigations and prosecution of apartheid-era crimes chaired by another retired Constitutional Court Justice Sisi Khampepe at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Newtown, Johannesburg.

In its call, the department said it was in urgent need of a secure internet connection to enable the efficient completion of commissions, ensure efficient retrieval, facilitate effective communication, and maintain secure public-facing services using ICT infrastructure.

It also wanted the solution to be completely compliant with applicable legislation, including the Protection of Personal Information Act, scalable, and delivered within four weeks from the date of appointment, for a period of six months.

Limpopo-based Kuhlulakadzuni Enterprise was also hired urgently to source an integrated e-mail management solution, website development services, and other relevant ICT services for the two commissions of inquiries for just over R1.16m.

The service provider will be responsible for the design, development, deployment, and maintenance of a modern, secure, and responsive website that meets the functional and communication needs of the commissions.

It will also align with best practices in accessibility, security, and performance, guarantee efficient completion of commissions’ work, assure efficient retrieval, facilitate effective communication, and maintain secure public-facing services using ICT infrastructure.

The company will provide and implement a secure, scalable, and reliable on-premises email environment that guarantees the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic communications.

The solution must include capabilities for internal and external e-mail communications, encryption, spam and malware protection, user access control, and compliance logging, which must all be hosted and managed within the commissions’ infrastructure.

Kubayi promised that Justice Khampepe’s commission will commence as announced without any further delays, while Justice Madlanga’s will not start on September 1 as expected.

The minister also announced the immediate suspension of the Deputy Director-General responsible for ICT in her department, Jabu Hlatshwayo, and President Cyril Ramaphosa then delegated to her powers to institute disciplinary proceedings against Justice and Constitutional Development Director-General Advocate Doctor Mashabane.

loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za

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