President Ramaphosa Authorizes Expanded SIU Probes into Major South African Institutions

In a decisive move against corruption, President Cyril Ramaphosa has empowered the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) through the signing of five proclamations, two of which are new and three are amendments, to deeply investigate corruption and maladministration across several pivotal state entities and departments in South Africa.

The first new proclamation targets the National Skills Fund (NSF) and the Department of Higher Education and Training, focusing on potential mismanagement and unlawful activities concerning funds designated for skills development from January 2013 to March 2025. The SIU will scrutinize procurement processes, the appointment of implementing agents, and any related wasteful expenditures.

Similarly, the National Department of Public Works and Infrastructure is under scrutiny through another new proclamation regarding potentially flawed procurement processes relating to travel services appointed in 2017. The SIU's examination will assess if these processes lacked fairness, competitiveness, and compliance with the prevailing financial regulations and legislations.

Moreover, the amendments to existing proclamations extend the SIU’s investigations into major institutions like the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), Eskom, PetroSA, Transnet, South African Airways (SAA), the Department of Human Settlements, and Alexkor, among others. These amendments not only extend the timeframe of the investigations but also enlarge the scope to cover additional entities and aspects like the Alexkor Richtersveld Mining Company and the State Diamond Trader.

For instance, South African Airways is now officially included in the amended proclamation that initially covered other large state-owned enterprises, addressing issues of misadministration and improper conduct that potentially led to substantial financial losses.

Alexkor’s investigation has also been notably broadened. The SIU is set to investigate every angle from the procurement and contracting for goods or services around diamond marketing and valuation to the actual sale and beneficiation processes. This includes looking into contracts and fees associated with Regiments Capital (Pty) Limited, an entity previously not emphasized as much.

The goal of these investigations is not merely to identify and prosecute wrongful acts but also to suggest and implement strategies that prevent such occurrences in the future. Any evidence of criminal activities uncovered during these probes will be directed to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action. Hence, the SIU's role extends beyond investigation to also include initiating civil actions to recoup financial losses experienced by the state.

With President Ramaphosa’s administration often criticized for not taking definitive action against corruption, these expanded probes may bolster public trust and demonstrate a stern commitment to governance reform and accountability.