THE Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has been authorised to investigate tenders in four municipalities, including the Alfred Nzo District Municipality and the Chris Hani District Municipality in the Eastern Cape.
In the Alfred Nzo District Municipality, the SIU will investigate:
- The implementation of water services infrastructure grant projects in Ntabankulu Local Municipality. This includes the appointment of a panel of service providers, consulting engineers and contractors for the planning, design and construction of the projects;
- Mount Ayliff bulk peri-urban water supply which includes the implementation of a pump station and a reservoir;
- Servicing Mbizana town area with a 2 ML wastewater treatment works and outfall sewer. This includes the construction the wastewater treatment works and outfall sewer pipeline;
- Kwabhaca regional bulk water supply scheme at Mount Frere. This includes the construction of water treatment works and other water schemes at Mount Frere;
- Greater Mbizana water supply project phase 1A contract 1B which includes village reticulation to Ward 27: Qobo and Mfundeni (Tender No: ANDM/IDMS-PMU/131/13/06/18);
- Greater Mbizana water supply project phase 33: which includes the implementation of Ward 4 & 27: Zone 0 main pipeline Contract 3B (Tender No: ANDM/IDMS-PMU/41/23/09/19); and
- Matatiele Ward 5 water supply project phase 3 Contract 3 including Matolweni secondary mains and reticulation (Tender No: ANDM/IDMS-PMU/133/31/01/20).
The SIU said the probe will look at unauthorised, irregular, or wasteful expenditure incurred by the Municipality. Additionally, if there was irregular, unlawful, or improper conduct by officials or employees of the Municipality, contractors, suppliers, or service providers associated with the Municipality, or any other involved person or entity.
The proclamation covers allegations of unlawful and improper conduct that occurred between 1 January 2015 and 8 November 2024, as well as any related activities before 1 January 2015 and after the date of the Proclamation that are pertinent to the matters under investigation or involves the same persons, entities, or contracts.
In the Chris Hani District Municipality, a proclamation was amended concerning the appointment of the Chris Hani Co-operative Development Centre NPC for the conversion of the Community Service Providers and Operators into functional co-operatives.
The SIU says the amendment results from the SIU’s investigations which revealed that the SIU needs to investigate further areas that the existing proclamations did not cover.
The SIU requested:
- The investigation period has been extended to start from 1 December 2011 to 8 November 2024.
- To add the procurement of goods, works or services in terms of Tender No. 33/2015/MD (TN) – Cluster 9 backlog eradication: Tsomo water treatment and river abstraction works.
Beyond investigating maladministration, corruption and fraud, the SIU will identify systemic failures and recommend measures to prevent future losses.
In line with the SIU and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996 (SIU Act), the SIU will refer any evidence of criminal conduct uncovered during its investigation to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action.
The SIU is also authorised under the SIU Act to initiate a 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.
