President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the SIU to look into the allegations occurring between 1 October 2022 and 21 August 2026.
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The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) will be probing allegations around the procurement of 14 backup generator tenders by the Western Cape’s Theewaterskloof Local Municipality in the Overberg District.
President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised the SIU to look into claims of serious maladministration, corruption, irregular expenditure, and unlawful or improper loss of public funds at the municipality.
“The SIU will investigate the procurement of, or contracting for, goods, works, services, or leases by or on behalf of the municipality for the supply, delivery and installation of 14 backup electricity generators for boreholes and water pump stations during the 2022-23 financial year,” SIU spokesperson Selby Makgotho said on Friday.
SIU to investigate generator procurement
Makgotho said the investigation will cover boreholes and water pump stations in Grabouw, Greyton, Caledon, Villiersdorp, Botrivier, Genadendal, Tesselaarsdal and Riviersonderend.
He said the investigating unit will also look into payments made in respect of the generators “where such procurement and payments may not have been fair, competitive, transparent, equitable or cost-effective, or may have been contrary to applicable legislation, manuals, guidelines, practice notes, circulars or instructions issued by National Treasury or the relevant provincial Treasury”.
The authorisation allows the SIU to look into the allegations occurring between 1 October 2022 and 21 August 2026.
This includes any improper or unlawful conduct by officials or employees of the municipality, relevant service providers, or any other person or entity.
“Beyond investigating maladministration, corruption, and fraud, the SIU will identify systemic failures and recommend measures to prevent future losses,” Makgotho said.
Investigating unit expands scope of investigations
On Thursday, the SIU revealed that it had widened its scope of investigations to include suspicious lifestyles of government officials and academic fraud at universities.
The unit’s acting head, Leonard Lekgetho, shared this during a lecture he delivered at North-West University’s Vaal campus in Vanderbijlpark.
Lekgetho said the SIU was probing cases where officials appeared to live far beyond their means, acquiring luxury homes, expensive vehicles and other assets that could not be explained by their legitimate income.
He also shared that universities were under scrutiny for ghost-writing practices and admitting students who did not meet entry requirements.
