FEATURE
SIU closing in on corruption President, this is the most prominent. To ensure that action is taken speedily, President Ramaphosa has instructed the SIU to submit interim reports on investigations every six weeks. “We have been at it since then. Some of the prominent focus areas in this investigation are the Gauteng and Eastern Cape departments of health but, of course, we are conducting investigations in all other provinc-
T
es,” he says. he Special Investig-
The SIU is investigating
In July 2020, President
that a criminal offence
atung Unit (SIU) is
Cyril Ramaphosa signed
has been committed, it
more than 200 compa-
closing in on those
a proclamation allow-
is obliged to refer such
nies in Gauteng and has
alleged to have been
ing the SIU to probe any
evidence to the prosecut-
already made findings
ing authority.
in some of those that it
involved in the misappro-
allegations relating to the
priation of Coronavirus
misuse of COVID-19 relief
(COVID-19) relief funds.
funds.
As the world marked
This allowed the SIU to
The SIU was also
focused on initially.
empowered to institute
Mothibi says where
civil proceedings for the
procurement processes
International Anti-Cor-
investigate any unlaw-
recovery of damages or
were irregular, the SIU has
ruption Day on 9 Decem-
ful or improper conduct
losses incurred by the
made referrals for discipli-
ber, South Africa’s fight
in the procurement of
State.
nary hearings to be held.
against corruption has
any goods, works and
zoomed in on those who
services during or related
Taking action
of Gauteng Health being
sought to benefit from
to the national state
Head of the SIU Advo-
placed on precautionary
the pandemic at the ex-
of disaster in any State
cate Andy Mothibi says
suspension pending the
pense of the citizens and
institution.
among the recent procla-
completion of the inves-
mations signed by the
tigation. He will also face
the State.
16
If the SIU finds evidence
This has led to the head
Public Sector Manager • December 2020/January 2021
