The Strong One

  SARS Commission Inquiry, 23 October 2018 - Gartner testimony

  "The Gartner findings say that SARS fell short of best practice is inconsistent with how SARS was performing in practice.   That's according to former SARS modernisation executive, Andre Scheepers who testified before the Nugent Commission.  Consultancy firm, Gartner was hired by suspended SARS head Tom Moyane to assess the revenue services' IT system."  

  "Now that I am living in the industry, outside the traditional approaches, I get asked a lot about why I do not believe in dynamic tunnels and full mesh for enterprise architecture. Both related approaches do indeed have some advantages, and they do have their place, however times have changed, in this next-gen WAN world we are in now." * Read the full article on LinkedIn by Nicky Kearns.

Ever wondered about the origins of Netdata , that incredible monitoring tool that keeps your IT infrastructure in check? 🤔 Let's dive into the exhilarating backstory! 🌟 🌌 The Beginning: Once upon a time in the vast realm of technology, a brilliant mind named Costa Tsaousis embarked on a quest. His mission? To create a monitoring tool like no other, one that could unveil the mysteries of complex systems! 🌐 🧠 The Genius at Work: With unwavering determination and coding magic, Costa crafted Netdata from scratch. His vision was to democratize monitoring, making it accessible to all, from tech giants to the smallest of startups! 🌐✨ 🚀 The Game Changer: Netdata was born! A lightweight, real-time, autonomous monitoring tool that shattered the norms. No more hidden costs or complex setups – Netdata was here to empower every sysadmin and IT enthusiast! 💪🔍 🌟 The Legacy: Today, Netdata stands tall as an open-source superhero, protecting servers, applications, and dreams

  Stephen Koseff of Investec talks about culture in an organization in a talk hosted by the The Collins Club and recorded for YouTube .  Stephen Koseff mentioned the use of the old Investec head quarters. I was the guy who walked into the old 55 Fox Street with Taddy Blecher and commissioned it for CIDA CITY CAMPUS . The pot plants were left behind unattended but there was one that had survived.  I was also the guy who was one of the first in at Fedsure and was sworn at by the incumbents. 🤣 But there was a time when they used external coaches and it wasn't kept confidential, otherwise a great insight into a great origanization. #southafrica #culture #banking 🇿🇦💰⭐

  "SARS Chief Officer for Digital Information Services and Technology, Mmamathe Makhekhe-Mokhuane made headlines in October after an embarrassing interview on SABC .  In the interview, Makhekhe-Mokhuane displayed no real knowledge about SARS’ IT systems and tried to divert the conversation to other topics.  When the interviewer tried to get the discussion back on track, Makhekhe-Mokhuane now famously replied: “Mam, can you give me protection from yourself.”" * Read the full article on MyBroadband .   The real crazy is at 12:00 minutes into the interview.

  "However, what really piqued my interest was that Sars had entered into a contract with Gartner in Ireland (presumably Gartner Ireland Limited). Willemse further testified that Gartner in South Africa had merely provided support staff. My first thoughts were: US holding company, Ireland, low tax rate, tax haven and the Double Irish tax avoidance structure!  Ireland has become synonymous with tax avoidance… It remains a popular jurisdiction for multinationals doing business in South Africa.  No, surely Sars would not lend itself to enabling a corporation that it is contracted with to avoid tax?" * Read the full article on TechCentral .

  According to the SEC, the US consultancy violated anti-bribery and internal accounting control provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act between December 2014 to August 2015 in its work at Sars.    * Link to the SEC ruling: https://www.sec.gov/files/litigation/admin/2023/34-97609.pdf * Read the full article on Polity .

    "Multinational tech firm Gartner’s revealing self-disclosure about its corrupt 2015 deal with the SA Revenue Service leaves South Africans with two questions: Did tech businessman Patrick Monyeki bribe then tax boss Tom Moyane to bat a R200-million tech contract to Gartner and, crucially, why are the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority still sitting on their hands? " * Link to the SEC ruling: https://www.sec.gov/files/litigation/admin/2023/34-97609.pdf * Read the full article on Daily Maverick .

  "Global research and advisory firm Gartner was this morning roasted by the Nugent commission over tax administration and governance at the South African Revenue Service (SARS).  Gartner, which says it takes pride in providing insights, advice and tools for leaders in IT, finance, HR, customer service and support, legal and compliance, marketing, sales and supply chain functions across the world, this morning testified over allegations that it illegally gifted part of a R200 million SARS contract to a third-party." * Read the full article over at ITWeb .