President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed six new and two amended proclamations authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate allegations of corruption and maladministration at various institutions.
The SIU has on Friday been given the green light to probe several provincial government departments and the affairs of the University of Fort Hare.
According to the SIU, the agency’s investigation period for the university has been extended to start from 1 January 2004 until 4 October 2024. The new scope allows the unit to probe the registration or admission of non-eligible people to enrol for, study for or be awarded degrees, including Bachelor’s, Honour’s, Master’s and PhD degrees.
“Without limiting the scope of non-eligibility grounds, this includes persons who did not have the requisite degrees or matriculation results to enrol for, study for or be awarded the degrees in question,” the SIU explained.
Investigators will probe the maintenance of the university’s infrastructure from 1 January 2022 to 31 March 2023 and zoom in on the installation of CCTV cameras and associated security features at the staff village in Alice in the Eastern Cape from 18 March 2022 to 2 June 2022.
They will also look into the refurbishment and maintenance of student residences at the university’s Alice campus in 2009 and the Capacity Building Programme for the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature.
The SIU will further investigate the appointment of a Head of Department and the affairs of the university in the Nguni Cattle Development Trust.
“Serious maladministration and malpractices, as well as conduct which may seriously harm the interests of the public in the affairs of the university regarding the administration and payment of allowances for food, accommodation, books, stationery, cash and study-related costs to qualifying students.”
In addition, investigations will cover the university’s Faculty of Health Sciences’ Albertina Sisulu Executive Leadership Programme in Health and the Master of Public Health Programme including the registration or admission of non-eligible people to enrol for, study for or be awarded degrees.
Further, the provincial Departments of Transport will be put under the microscope.
According to the agency, the SIU’s investigation will continue to probe the registration and licensing of motor vehicles, registration of motor vehicle ownership or licensing details, issuing of driving licences, learner’s licences or professional driving permits, conversion of foreign driving licences and military driving licences to driving licences, and issuing of roadworthy certificates.
The state agency will investigate conduct at the Limpopo Department of Sports, Arts and Culture and provincial Health Departments in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape.
The SIU will also probe the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality and Tlokwe Local Municipality.
In the provincial departments and the municipalities, the matters are mostly related to tenders and contracts.
The SIU will examine if the contracts adhered to National Treasury guidelines and ascertain whether the payments were irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditures or financial losses for the department or the State.
“Beyond investigating maladministration, corruption and fraud, the SIU will identify systemic failures and recommend measures to prevent future losses.”
In line with the SIU Act, the agency said it would refer any evidence of criminal conduct uncovered during its investigation to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action.
Meanwhile, the agency 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. – SAnews.gov.za
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What is Fraud? “Fraud” is any activity that relies on deception in order to achieve a gain. Fraud becomes a crime when it is a “knowing misrepresentation of the truth or concealment of a material fact to induce another to act to his or her detriment” (Black’s Law Dictionary). In other words, if you lie in order to deprive a person or organization of their money or property, you’re committing fraud.