Whistle-blowers trigger SIU probe!

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has given the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) the green light to investigate maladministration allegations at Makana Municipality in the Eastern Cape.

Serious maladministration involves seven tenders, and recover of any loss the state has suffered, the SIU said in a statement on Thursday, 24 October.

DA councillor in Makana, Luvuyo Sizani, said his party is confident the investigation would reveal numerous irregularities and unlawful activities related to procurement of services.

"We have long maintained that some councillors and officials in this municipality have unlawfully benefited from specific tenders. In several instances, they've failed to disclose their interests and willfully allowed the municipality to conduct business with their family members," Sizani said.

SIU spokesman, Kaizer Kganyago, said the agency would probe allegations of unlawful and improper conduct that occurred between 1 January 2019 and 18 October 2024, as well as any related activities before 1 January 2019.

Makana Municipal spokeswoman, Anele Mjekula, confirmed developments.

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"I can confirm that the office of the municipal manager, Pumelelo Kate, has received official communication from the SIU requesting documents for purposes of assessing allegations of maladministration and collusion reported by various whistle-blowers," Mjekula said.

"According to the SIU, they have received requests from whistle-blowers to investigate procurement and payment processes related to the awarding of certain tenders/contracts. The municipality is complying with the request by preparing all the information and documents required for submission to the SIU."

The SIU will also look at payments made in a manner that was not fair, competitive, transparent, equitable, or cost-effective or in violation of applicable legislation, guidelines, or instructions from the National or Provincial Treasury.

This includes the municipality or the state's unauthorised, irregular, or wasteful expenditure.

The probe will also look at any irregular, unlawful, or improper conduct by officials or employees of the municipality, its suppliers or service providers, or any other person or entity implicated.

The probe will include establishing any undisclosed or unauthorised interests that the municipality's officials or employees may have had in suppliers or service providers bidding for work or doing business with the municipality or to whom contracts were awarded by the municipality, as identified by the Auditor-General.

Beyond investigating maladministration, corruption, and fraud, the SIU will identify systemic failures and recommend measures to prevent future losses.

The SIU is also authorised, under the SIU Act, to initiate civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal in its name to address any wrongdoing identified during its investigation resulting from acts of corruption, fraud, or maladministration.