President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed two proclamations authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to probe allegations of serious maladministration in the affairs of the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Transport, the Free State Department of Public Works and Infrastructure and Human Settlements, and the Free State Provincial Legislature.
SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the scope of the investigations, which aim to recover losses incurred to the state, would cover allegations of serious maladministration; improper or unlawful conduct by employees of state institutions; unlawful appropriation or expenditure of public money or property; unlawful, irregular, intentional or negligent loss of public money or damage to public property; as well as several other alleged offences.
Kganyago said Proclamation 156 of 2024 authorised the unit to investigate serious maladministration in relation to the construction of Mngwenya River Bridge, Umlalazi River Bridge, Mhlathuze Bridge, and Phethu River Bridge in KZN.
The proclamation covers allegations of “unlawful and improper conduct” that took place between June 1, 2016, and February 23, 2024 (the date of the publication of the proclamation) as well as before June 1, 2016, and after the date of proclamation that are “relevant to, connected with, incidental to the matters or involve the same persons, entities or contracts investigated”.
Kganyago said Proclamation 155 of 2024 authorised the unit to investigate “serious maladministration” in relation to the procurement of, or contracting for goods, works and services in relation to the Ramkraal Project in the Free State by or on behalf of the department and provincial legislature.
The SIU will also investigate payments made in a manner that was not fair, competitive, transparent, equitable or cost-effective, or contrary to applicable legislation, and any related unauthorised, irregular, or fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
“In addition to investigating maladministration, malpractice, corruption and fraud, the SIU will identify system failures and make systematic recommendations to improve measures to prevent future losses,” Kganyago said.
Any evidence uncovered during the probe that points to criminal conduct will be referred to the National Prosecuting Authority for further action.
