President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed six new and two amended proclamations authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate allegations of corruption and maladministration.
The SIU will investigate allegations of corruption and maladministration at higher education institutions, provincial government departments, and municipalities.
The University of Fort Hare SIU Investigation
The SIU will investigate the University of Fort Hare’s registration or admission of non-eligible students, maintenance of the university’s infrastructure from 1 January 2022 to 31 March 2023 and security upgrades at the institution's staff village.
According to the SIU, the probe concerning the regulation and admission of students will centre around whether individuals met the eligibility criteria for the respective programmes.
Without limiting the scope of non-eligibility grounds, this includes persons who did not have the requisite degrees or matriculation results to enrol for, study for or be awarded the degrees in question.
The SIU will further investigate the appointment of a Head of Department and the affairs of the university in the Nguni Cattle Development Trust.
Serious maladministration and malpractices, as well as conduct which may seriously harm the interests of the public in the affairs of the university regarding the administration and payment of allowances for food, accommodation, books, stationery, cash and study-related costs to qualifying students.
Government Department
The SIU will investigate the Departments of Transport, Sports, Arts, and Culture in Limpopo, along with the Health Departments in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and the Eastern Cape. The investigation will focus on the issuance of licences, awarding of tenders, and compliance with National Treasury guidelines, with particular attention to financial misconduct such as irregular or wasteful expenditures.
The probe will delve into various aspects of vehicle registration, including motor vehicle ownership, the issuing of driving and learner’s licence, professional driving permits, and the conversion of foreign and military licences. The issuance of roadworthy certificates will also be scrutinised.
Beyond addressing maladministration, corruption, and fraud, the SIU aims to identify systemic failures and propose measures to prevent future financial losses.
Additionally, the SIU will investigate the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality and Tlokwe Local Municipality. It will assess whether tender contracts adhered to National Treasury standards and determine if any payments resulted in irregular, fruitless, or wasteful expenditure, causing financial losses for the departments or the State.
