The giant fight against corruption continues. However, the Special Investigation Unit (SUI) appears to be making good progress.
According to the unit’s latest annual report, during the 2022-23 financial year, the SOE recovered cash and assets worth R389 million and prevented financial losses of R2.1 billion.
The investigation unit also ensured that between April 2022 and March 2023 questionable contracts and administrative decisions worth R300 million were set aside or declared invalid.
The value of potential cash or assets that the SOE has yet to recover at this stage currently stands at R846 million. This relates, among other things, to cases in which the High Court or special tribunal has, among other things, granted preservation orders to freeze assets to the SOE.
Investigate, investigate, investigate
During the financial year, the SOE received 1,719 allegations of corruption and other irregularities to investigate. A total of 376 cases against officials of state institutions were referred for disciplinary action during this period.
No less than 680 references were made to the relevant prosecuting authority for consideration.
A total of 60,087 references were made to regulatory authorities and institutions so that action can be taken against the offenders. Action in this case involves, among other things, the cancellation of fraudulently obtained driving licences.
It also includes recommendations to place companies on the list of restricted or blacklisted companies so that they can no longer do business with the state.
Adv. Andy Mothibi, head of the SOE, told the portfolio committee on justice and correctional services on Monday that the investigative unit submitted a total of 21 reports to the presidency during the relevant financial year on allegations of corruption, maladministration and malpractice at state institutions.
One of the reports is an interim report on, among other things, allegations of maladministration in the awarding of honors degrees at the University of Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape.
The alleged mismanagement of money and recruitment of civil servants to study for personal gain at this academic institution was also investigated.
SIU submits 21 investigation reports to the presidency under published proclamations, prevents financial losses to the value of R 2.1 Billion. pic.twitter.com/jHm37FPSlI
— Special Investigating Unit (SIU) (@RSASIU) October 17, 2023
A report on the procurement of tenders for the supply and construction of prefabricated mobile classrooms, laboratories and water tanks at schools by the Eastern Cape Department of Public Works was also submitted.
During the 2022-23 financial year, the SOE finalized and submitted a report on the procurement of either contracting for aviation medical services and patient transport services by or on behalf of the department of health in the Free State and North West.
“The SOE is a high-performance organization that will henceforth focus on key areas, including corruption, maladministration and prevention of malpractice by means of data analysis, predictive modeling and the digitization of business processes,” says Mothibi.
You can access the full report here: https://t.co/7XemgJyiwK
— Special Investigating Unit (SIU) (@RSASIU) October 17, 2023
