SIU to probe various corruption allegations since 2018
The SIU has been tasked to investigate unlawful acts that Tshwane has turned a blind eye and leaving ratepayers to struggle and endure hardship and horrible living conditions.
The SIU has officially been directed to investigate all allegations of irregular conduct by Tshwane employees or any person who has been awarded a tender unfairly and unlawfully.
Investigations will cover allegations of intentional or negligent loss of public money or damage to public property, malpractice, corruption and fraud that took place in Tshwane between January 2018 and September 2023.
Special Investigating Unit (SIU) spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised the unit to investigate allegations of maladministration and corruption in the Tshwane metro.
The directive also tasks the SIU to recover any financial loss suffered by the municipality.
Kganyago said the SIU would begin its probe into the contracting companies that were entrusted to execute phase 1 upgrades to and urgent refurbishment of the Rooiwal wastewater treatment works.
“The SIU will investigate any unauthorised, irregular, or fruitless and wasteful expenditure incurred by Tshwane.
“The scope of the investigation also covers any unlawful or improper conduct by officials or employees of Tshwane, the applicable suppliers or service providers or any other person or entity.”
Kganyago said the SIU would also identify system failures and put together systematic recommendations to improve measures to prevent future losses.
“In line with the law, the SIU will refer any evidence pointing to criminal conduct it uncovers during its investigations to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action.
“The SIU is empowered by law to institute a civil action in the high court or special tribunal to correct any wrongdoing uncovered during its investigation.”
Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink has welcomed the investigation.
“We welcome the decision to declare an SIU investigation into the 2020 tender to upgrade Rooiwal.
“According to a Tshwane forensic report, the tender was irregularly awarded and failed before work could be completed.”
He said the SIU could potentially recover funds owed to Tshwane.
Brink said Tshwane blacklisted companies and tenderpreneurs that failed to complete the Rooiwal upgrades in the spirit of transparency, clean governance and accountability.
CMS, NJR & Blackhead JV were appointed in October 2019 to upgrade Rooiwal at a cost of more than R250-million however failed to honour the contract after long delays and non-performance.
The contract was for 24 months but terminated in July 2022 when the company had already used about R147-million with about 68% of the project completed.
The Rooiwal Phase 1 Upgrade Project faced many delays such as:
– community interruptions (business forums)
– appointment of sub-contractors and labour
– Covid -19 lockdown
– scaling down of workforce due to Covid regulations
– periodic temporary suspension of work due to Covid-19 infections
– the contractor abandoned the site for almost a month after a builder’s break
– dispute between JV partners
– delayed payment of suppliers and labourers by the contractor.
Tshwane however plans to procure another contractor to complete Phase 1 by April 2024.
The report details that the Tshwane council has approved a R150-million budget for this.
Troubles at Rooiwal began around 2004 after a master plan was identified that the plant needed to be expanded to process 80 million litres a day by 2008 however this did not happen.
Tshwane now plans an additional capacity of 50 million litres a day in 2024 and another by 2034.
It is estimated that the full cost of the rehabilitation and upgrade is R4-billion.
In May, Minister of Water and Sanitation Senzo Mchunu and Brink agreed to partner to manage the project and fix the infrastructure problems.
ALSO READ: UP assures students that their safety remains a priority
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
