The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), an entity of the department of science and innovation (DSI), has not had a permanent CEO since 2019, with former diplomat Patrick Krappie having acted in the role since 2020 — leading to paralysis in the key entity.
Several members of the entity’s executive committee are also in acting capacities, with some having acted for years; the agency blames the paralysis on an institutional review by minister Blade Nzimande four years ago — a process that was apparently concluded only a few months ago.
“Mr Krappie was appointed as acting CEO in June 2020 and has been in the role for four years and three months. The CEO position has not been filled due to an institutional review of TIA, commissioned by the minister of higher education, science and innovation shortly after Mr Krappie’s appointment,” the TIA and DSI said.
“The review concluded in March 2024, and the board is now in the process of appointing a permanent CEO, informed by the review’s recommendations to ensure the future direction of the organisation. The permanent CEO role was advertised in the past five years. It was last advertised on 20 October 2019.
“However, the recruitment process was terminated by guidance from the minister of higher education, science and innovation, pending the outcomes of the institutional review. The recruitment process is now resuming, guided by the findings and recommendations of the review.”
🌍 A spotlight on one of SAIS24’s powerful voices—Mr. Patrick Krappie, Acting CEO of @tiaorgza.
— South African Innovation Summit (@innovsummit) October 1, 2024
We’re honoured to have had TIA, led by Mr. Krappie, as one of our valued sponsors! 🙌#SAIS24 #SpeakerHighlight #TIA #InnovationInAction #TechLeadership pic.twitter.com/t0kxmq7G2x
The TIA was set up in 2009 to support the state in stimulating and intensifying technological innovation to improve economic growth by developing and exploiting technological innovations. The agency is also mandated to invest in and support innovators, entrepreneurs and SMEs to commercialise their technology.
To date, however, the effect of the TIA on the innovation landscape has been muted. It is not the first time the organisation has found itself in an awkward leadership arrangement. It was previously chaired by Stephen Lennon, who was appointed to the role even though he resides permanently in Australia — a situation that upset MPs.
Lennon in a parliamentary sitting held in March 2020 said the agency was prioritising and fast-tracking the recruitment of a new CEO and a final announcement regarding an appointment was expected in the “very near future”.
Krappie, who served as a diplomat for eight years, representing SA as a negotiator in the World Trade Organisation (WTO), is not the only acting executive at the agency.
“TIA’s policies do not prescribe minimum or maximum acting periods for executives. Currently, TIA has three executives on fixed-term contracts, and two executive positions are vacant. Four employees are acting in executive roles: two in vacant positions; and two temporarily. The acting incumbents have been in their roles for the following durations: two for two years, one for eight months, and one for three months.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa in June spilt the department of innovation and technology from higher education. Nzimande stayed in charge of science, technology and innovation — a brief he headed after the higher education and science departments were merged in 2019 in an attempt to rein in government spending.
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