The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) will be closely watching at least 14 government departments and agencies, including the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), after President Cyril Ramaphosa signed five proclamations giving the unit the authority to look into cases of corruption and bad administration in the departments and agencies.
The provincial health departments are all included in the investigations, according to SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago.
“The SIU investigation [into health departments] would focus on unlawful or improper activity by claimants or applicants in regard to medical negligence claims that were fraudulent, improper, or unlawful by any person or business that unjustly benefited themselves or any other person.
Any unauthorised, pointless, or wasteful expenditure made by institutions or the State will also be looked into by the SIU.
“The investigation will cover claims that occurred between January 1, 2013, and July 22, 2022, the date of the proclamation, or which occurred before January 1, 2013, or after the date of publication of this Proclamation, but is relevant to, connected with, incidental to, ancillary to, or involve the same persons, entities, or contracts investigated,” Kganyago said.
He claimed that the Transport Department of KwaZulu-Natal will also be investigated.
“Proclamation R.76 of 2022 authorises the SIU to investigate serious mismanagement in connection with the operations of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport, including the root causes of such mismanagement, which have resulted in irregular expenditure and wasteful and pointless expenditure, as identified by the Auditor-General of South Africa.
The SIU will also look into any allegations of serious, improper, or illegal behaviour by department employees, illegal appropriation or expenditure of public funds, illegal, irregular, or unapproved acquisition act, transaction, measure, or practise having a bearing on State property, intentional or careless loss of public funds, or damage to public property, as well as any other offences mentioned in parts or sections of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, 2004 (Act).
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and the South African Council of Educators (SACE) will both be the subject of investigations by the SIU into the following:
The investigation at the SACE will centre on the SACE’s search for and purchase of a commercial property in East London, as well as any related unapproved, irregular, or wasteful expenditures made by the SACE or the State.
The SIU at SASSA will look to see if there was “any related unauthorised, irregular or fruitless and wasteful expenditure incurred by SASSA or the State or any resulting loss or damages suffered by the SASSA” in the selection of at least five bidders.
According to Kganyago, the SIU will keep a close eye on the Newcastle Municipality, conducting inquiries into at least four specific contracts, as well as procurement procedures, tender awarding, and other related matters.
Further, the SIU will look into “maladministration in the affairs of the municipality with regard to contracts awarded to [government employees], payments made to fictitious employees, fruitless and wasteful expenditure incurred as a result of late payments made to Eskom, fruitless and wasteful expenditure incurred as a result of late Value Added Tax and Pay As You Earn payments to the South African Revenue Service, salary payments made to former employees after the termination of employment, and salary payments made to fictitious employees,” according to Kganyago.
The inquiry will also look into any alleged “serious, improper, or unlawful conduct by officials or employees” at the municipality.