President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed six new proclamations and one amendment authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate allegations of maladministration in the affairs several institutions, one them being the South African Special Risk Insurance Association (Sasria).
In relation to the latter, the proclamation pertains to payments following the July 2021 unrest wherein protestors targeted logistics and supply chain facilities and infrastructure in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
According to a statement issued by the SIU, Proclamation 214 of 2024 authorises it to investigate allegations of maladministration in connection with the affairs of the insurance body relating to the receipt, capturing, processing, verification, assessment, authorisation and payment of claims related to the July 2021 civil unrest.
“The SIU’s probe will seek to establish whether the claims made were in line with applicable legislation manuals, guidelines, policies, procedures, practice notes, instructions, prescripts or practices of the National Treasury.
“Furthermore, the probe will ascertain if there is unlawful or improper conduct of Sasria’s employees, officials and any other person or entity to corruptly or unduly benefit themselves or others.”
The statement added that the investigation would probe to see if there was fraudulent conduct, including the causes of such maladministration and any losses, damages or prejudice actually or potentially suffered by Sasria or the State.
It includes “any irregular, improper or unlawful conduct by employees or officials of Sasria or any other person or entity”.
“The Proclamation covers allegations of unlawful and improper conduct that occurred between 1 July 2021 and 08 November 2024, as well as any related activities before 1 July 2021 and after the date of the Proclamation that are pertinent to the matters under investigation or involve the same persons, entities, or contracts.”
