AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER
THE Special Investigations Unit (SIU) in South Africa is investigating fraud and corruption cases in government departments, state-owned enterprises and agencies involving more than R108-billion.
At a webinar organised by the South African Editors Forum, Advocate Andy Mothibi, head of SIU has disclosed that investigations involving R101-billion were continuing into:
- Eskom.
- The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa.
- The South African Broadcasting Corporation.
- The Unemployment Insurance Fund.
- Denel.
- National Health Laboratory Service.
- Health Professionals Council of SA.
- SA Heritage Resource Agency.
- South African Airways.
- National Lotteries Commission.
- Transnet.
- Council of Medical Schemes.
- The Independent Development Trust.
Mothibi said the SIU was busy with probes into contracts worth R8.6-billion in government departments. The departments include Defence and Military Veterans, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Justice and Correctional Services, Rural Development and Land Reform as well as Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation.
Mothibi also disclosed that the SIU has also, through its investigations, set aside several contracts and saved the government R4.3-billion. The SIU also saved the state a further R400-million in losses that could have occurred had it not intervened.
He said the SIU has referred 451 cases to the National Prosecuting Authority for decisions.
On COVID-19 specific investigations, Mothibi said that a progress report handed to President Cyril Ramaphosa at the end of April reflected that the SIU has concluded 40% of its work.
“By the nature of our business, we can’t close out new allegations from being reported. So the total number as at the 30th of April is about R14.2 billion, which includes a number of 2,251 service providers and 4,117 contacts,” he said, adding that the SIU had referred 38 cases to the National Prosecuting Authority.
Mothibi said the SIU has made a number of referrals for further action. “A number of referrals made for administrative actions, this would include blacklisting of service providers. You can see that the number is really quite sizable where some of the service providers will be restricted. The number of referrals for executive action, this would include MECs, those who are in charge of departments, political heads of the departments,” he said.
