This is according to SIU Head Advocate Andy Mothibi after the unit obtained a preservation order of some R900 million worth of assets linked to an alleged criminal syndicate that operated at the hospital.

The syndicate – together with two others – allegedly siphoned off some R2 billion that was earmarked for the improvement of healthcare services at the hospital in a complex web of fraud and corruption.

“The orders are a critical step in our commitment to claw back every cent that was stolen from the public purse, specifically Tembisa Hospital.

“This is not merely a preservation but a proactive, intensive effort to trace, secure, and ultimately recover assets that we allege are the proceeds of corruption. We will not allow individuals to hide behind complex corporate and trust structures,” Mothibi said.

Executing the order

Last week, the SIU secured assets valued at approximately R133.5 million belonging to one of the alleged masterminds of the Tembisa Hospital looting, Hangwani Maumela.

Items secured at a Sandhurst home and Emalahleni dealership include:
• A property in Sandhurst: estimated value R70 million
• Three Lamborghinis: estimated value R25 million
• Household contents: estimated value R3 million
• Security in respect of the Household contents: estimated value R500 000
• Two Aston Martin luxury cars
• One Ferrari luxury car
• One Rolls-Royce luxury car

“The Mpumalanga dealership, on a completely without prejudice basis, gave the SIU surety of two immovable properties, without any bonds outstanding on them, valued at approximately R35 million in exchange for the curator, in the interim, not removing the luxury cars from the dealership after the luxury cars have been attached by the curator.

“The preserved assets will remain under the control of the Curator appointed by the Special Tribunal until the final determination of up to 41 main civil recovery proceedings to be instituted, the first of which the SIU is mandated to institute within 60 court days. Once civil proceedings are concluded, the assets will be forfeited to the State,” the SIU explained.

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These developments are stark evidence of how corruption continues to infect the state at every level, OUTA said. The Sibiya raid forms part of an investigation linked to the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into criminality, political interference, and corruption in the criminal justice system. This commission, established following testimony by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, is probing allegations that criminal syndicates have infiltrated the South African Police Service (SAPS), the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), intelligence structures, and elements of the judiciary. These claims cut to the heart of South Africa’s law enforcement crisis, OUTA said. “When the police themselves are compromised, accountability becomes impossible.”

Separately, the SIU’s raids on Maumela’s properties, including his luxury Sandton mansion and a car dealership in Mpumalanga, mark what OUTA said is a major step in the investigation into the looting of Tembisa Hospital. The scandal, first exposed by murdered whistleblower Babita Deokaran, revealed how politically connected businesspeople siphoned more than R2 billion through irregular tenders, while the hospital itself struggled with medicine shortages and failing infrastructure.

“Together, these cases tell a single story,” said OUTA CEO Wayne Duvenage. “The rot is not confined to one department or one corrupt official. It runs from the procurement systems in many government departments and state entities that enrich undeserved companies and politically connected individuals, to the police structures that are supposed to hold them accountable. Until these networks are dismantled and the rule of law is allowed to flow unhindered, leading to prosecutions, South Africa remains trapped in a cycle of exposure without consequence.”

OUTA calls for urgent action to strengthen and capacitate the SIU, NPA, the Hawks, and the South African Revenue Service (SARS), ensuring they have both independence and capacity to pursue complex corruption cases to completion.

“Raids and asset seizures are a start. These specific matters currently unfolding are many years overdue and there, are there are thousands more to get to. To do so, South Africans deserve and need justice that goes beyond confiscations of a few high-profile cases. We need sustainable justice that is effective and restores public trust, protects whistleblowers, and proves that accountability is not selective,” OUTA concluded.

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“This staggering sum, intended for the provision of healthcare to the most vulnerable, was instead ruthlessly siphoned off through a complex web of fraud and corruption, representing an egregious betrayal of the nation’s trust,” Head of the SIU, Advocate Andy Mothibi said on Monday 29 September.

Addressing the media at the hospital where an interim report on the investigation on corruption at the facility was released, Mothibi said as complex as the probe had been, they had been able to uncover irregularities, fraudulent activities and corrupt activities by officials and service providers.

In September 2022, the Office of the Premier referred matters to the SIU to be investigated. The unit has since then analysed at least 2 207 procurement bundles.

“Key officials from the Gauteng Department of Health (GDOH) and Tembisa Hospital are accused of benefiting from corrupt payments that facilitated the irregular appointment of service providers, involving money laundering and fraud through fronting and the use of false Supply Chain Management documentation,” Mothibi said.

The investigation currently involves 207 service providers which traded with the Tembisa Hospital under 4 501 purchase orders (PO). Each PO is linked to a purported three-quote procurement process purportedly involving three competing bidders.

“These numbers are constantly updated as new companies are identified through ongoing investigations and the flow of funds involving irregularly appointed service providers at the Tembisa Hospital,” Mothibi said.

The syndicates are the Maumela syndicate, Mazibuko syndicate and the X syndicate.

The Maumela syndicate is linked to Hangwani Morgan Maumela; the Mazibuko syndicate is linked to Rudolph Mazibuko while investigations are continuing into the X syndicate.

The SIU is reviewing 1728 bundles worth R816 560 710 related to the Maumela syndicate and has completed 924 analyses, uncovering significant irregularities.

The SIU has also traced 41 suppliers or service providers linked to Maumela; three of the companies that were awarded contracts to the value of R13 538 292 in this syndicate are linked to Vusimuzi Matlala.

With regard to the Mazibuko syndicate, the SIU reviewed 651 bundles valued at R283 504 291, with 392 completed analyses revealing assets worth R42 646 502, including multiple properties in the Western Cape and Gauteng.

With regard to X syndicate, the SIU is currently assessing 1237 procurement bundles, valued at R596 424 356.

Apart from these syndicates, the SIU also uncovered other syndicates which have looted millions at the hospital.

Mothibi said the SIU’s evidence has revealed that the total value of corrupt payments linked to officials and employees of GDOH and Tembisa Hospital is R122 228 000.

“The SIU has identified at least 15 current and former officials involved in activities such as corruption, money laundering, collusion and bid rigging with improperly appointed service providers at Tembisa Hospital.

“These individuals abused their positions throughout the procurement process to benefit these providers and enrich themselves. The number of identified officials is expected to rise as the investigation continues. The officials range from entry-level clerks to management-level officials,” he said.

The SIU has prepared 116 disciplinary referrals against 13 officials, of which 108 were delivered to the GDOH relating to maladministration, as well as the irregular appointment of service providers at the hospital.

Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, said the corruption could not have taken place if it was not for the assistance of corrupt officials both at the hospital and Gauteng Health Department.

He said while investigations are continuing, there was a need to look at the officials at the department. “Whistle blowers must be protected and those involved in corruption must be removed from society,” he said.

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Victor was not consulted when the decision to move the Tribunal was initiated as it was before she was appointed in November last year, according to a response to questions by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DOJCD).

She was apparently also not consulted about the contents of the gazette notice, even though it was issued in her name.

The gazette reads: “the Special Tribunal President has made the following amendment”.

DOJCD spokesperson Kgalalelo Masibi told GroundUp, “The relocation was initiated based on recommendations from the former President of the Tribunal [Judge Lebogang Modiba], with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) registering the request.”

The minister was briefed and approved the relocation in February 2025, she said.

The decision aligned with the DOJCD’s “broader strategy to improve access to justice, strengthen institutions, and enhance the functionality of key entities like the Special Tribunal”, said Masibi. She claimed that space at the current office had become “increasingly constrained”.

The Centre Walk Building in the Pretoria city centre was identified as a suitable option as it offered “ready-to-occupy space that aligns with the operational and administrative needs of the Tribunal”, said Masibi.

“For physical hearings, any appropriate court, including Booysens, can still be used when necessary”.

The decision to relocate the court from the government-owned Booysens Magistrates’ Court in southern Johannesburg to a privately owned office in a building in the centre of Pretoria has drawn criticism.

Judges Matter legal researcher Mbekezeli Benjamin said, “It is worrying to see the relocation of the Special Tribunal in circumstances that do not seem justified. For the last six years, the Special Tribunal has functioned well at the Booysens Court, where its judges, staff and legal practitioners have had easy access.”

Relocating the Tribunal to Pretoria will “cause enormous inconvenience and be a further blow to its effectiveness”, he said.

Benjamin raised the concern that the Special Tribunal is dependent on DOJCD staff to administer it.

“The fact that such a decision seems to have been taken without sufficient consultation with the Tribunal’s judicial officers and staff underscores the urgency with which the Special Tribunal must now be established as an independent judicial Institution, with its own premises, staff and resources. A failure to do so places the fight against corruption at great risk,” said Benjamin.

Fixing what is not broken

Opened in 2019, the Booysens court has ten courtrooms and extensive office and parking facilities. The Tribunal has no problem with court availability for hearings, GroundUp was told.

The Tribunal has three full-time employees: Judge Victor and assistant director Mpho Mashitisho, who both reside in Johannesburg, and a secretary who lives in Pretoria.

The Tribunal’s new Pretoria office will be operational from 1 September, according to the gazette notice. But the office in Booysens has already been reallocated and all the Tribunal’s files moved to Pretoria.

This means that anyone wanting to file in-person complaints will be unable to do so until the new office is operational.

Furthermore, in Pretoria the northern division of the Gauteng High Court serves the entire northern part of the province as well as part of the North West province and has a heavy case load.

Also, the Pretoria central magistrates’ court is still not fully operational after a fire gutted part of the historic building in October 2010, destroying 17 court rooms.

Tribunal rebuilt after collapse

Judge Victor was appointed in November last year. Her appointment came months after the effective collapse of the Tribunal following the resignation of Judge Lebogang Modiba, the former head.

Besides Modiba’s resignation, another Tribunal judge had retired, and the other judges had not been active in hearing matters for some time. This left Modiba to handle the majority of matters before she left in June 2024, resulting in a backlog.

Because of the collapse of the Tribunal, the SIU was forced to take applications for preservation orders to the High Court, where it had to navigate busy court rolls.

President Cyril Ramaphosa eventually appointed Judge Victor and five other judges to hear cases brought before it by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU). The judges are based in different parts of the country and many of their matters are heard virtually.

Anti-corruption weapon

One of the most effective weapons in the government’s anti-corruption arsenal, the Tribunal was established to hear applications by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to freeze and confiscate the proceeds of corruption, including money, properties and vehicles. The Tribunal has been based in the Booysens Court since its inception.

The Tribunal is central to the work of the SIU and was established to ensure the unit could swiftly apply for preservation orders without having to navigate busy court rolls to get matters before the High Court.

The partnership between the SIU and the Special Tribunal is both symbiotic and statutory: the SIU investigates and initiates civil action; the Special Tribunal decides and enforces remedies.

This article was republished with permission from GroundUp, the original article can be found here.

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Entering its headquarters in Pretoria, it is easy to see how the SIU is different from many other government agencies. The modern building is a beehive of energy – staff bustle around with purpose and direction.

The question is why this agency stands out from the rest. New Institute for Security Studies research undertaken in cooperation with the SIU seeks to provide answers.

SIU Head Andy Mothibi tells stories about how he began his career at the South African Revenue Service (SARS). As a young lawyer at SARS, he looked up to leaders like the late Pravin Gordhan, who instilled staff with an ethic of serving a ‘higher purpose.’ Mothibi says this legacy lives on at the SIU.

Leadership is important for the success of all organisations, but it is especially important for anti-corruption agencies. The ‘tone from the top’ must be courageous, motivated, and honest.

Fulfilling statutory requirements, qualifications, and experience is not enough. Leaders must also possess superior human relations skills, resilience and the ability to inspire. Mothibi is evidently a strong leader whose staff are willing to follow him into the difficult terrain of anti-corruption enforcement.

Leadership is important for the success of all organisations, but it is especially important for anti-corruption agencies

The SIU has an organisational culture of excellence, integrity and innovation. Lifelong learning is incentivised, and many staff members pursue advanced degrees part-time.

There are other drivers of the SIU’s success. The unit uses civil law to recover debts owed to the state. This means it only has to prove cases on a balance of probabilities. This is a lower threshold than the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has to meet in criminal corruption cases, which is ‘beyond a reasonable doubt.’ Civil recovery processes have the potential to recover more assets than criminal processes.

The SIU has independence over its finances and human resources. It can make its own decisions about who to hire and how much to pay them, and is therefore successful at attracting talent.

This is another advantage the SIU has over its partners in the fight against corruption, such as the NPA. The latter is relegated to a programme of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, and subject to its control – a situation that also requires remedy.

Another driver of the SIU’s success is that its investigations are activated only by presidential proclamations. This means the unit cannot threaten presidents or their allies. This may have protected the SIU from political interference in the past. However, as our research shows, this also compromises its independence.

The SIU fills a strategic gap in South Africa’s anti-corruption institutional architecture

The SIU submits requests for a presidential proclamation to the justice department as part of a bureaucratic process of assessing them and forwarding them to the president. This delays the start of investigations and provides opportunities for people to hide the proceeds of corruption and destroy evidence.

One way to improve the SIU’s performance is to eliminate the ‘middleman’ and empower the SIU to send requests for presidential proclamations straight to the presidency.

There are other ways to improve the SIU’s performance. The unit makes recommendations to the government institutions it investigates on remedial action. Its work would be even more effective were these recommendations binding, like those of the Public Protector.

The SIU currently faces a cash crunch linked to the increasing number of investigations it has been authorised to conduct, combined with an ineffective funding model. The SIU bills the state institutions it investigates for the work it has done. Unsurprisingly, many are unwilling to pay. The SIU’s funding model must be changed to allow the unit to keep a percentage of funds recovered, as some anti-corruption agencies in other countries do.

Most importantly, the safety of SIU personnel and whistleblowers is a serious concern. The safety of staff and witnesses should be a non-negotiable imperative of anti-corruption enforcement in a country where fiscal survival depends on reducing corruption, and assassination is often used to resolve disputes.

The SIU fills a strategic gap in South Africa’s anti-corruption institutional architecture. South Africa does not yet have a dedicated anti-corruption prevention agency, even though the United Nations Convention against Corruption provides that it should. With corruption, prevention is better than cure, and over time, the SIU’s work has evolved to cover this terrain.

NACAC recommends that the SIU become South Africa’s new dedicated anti-corruption agency

This essential work, plus the SIU’s reputation for effectiveness, may be why the president’s National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council (NACAC) recommends that the SIU become South Africa’s new dedicated anti-corruption agency.

At the National Anti-Corruption Dialogue on 9–10 December 2024, NACAC Chair Firoz Cachalia proposed a new independent anti-corruption prevention agency: the Office of Public Integrity. NACAC recommends that the new agency be a Chapter 9 institution with similar levels of independence to the Public Protector. It should absorb the SIU with all its current functions, enabling the new agency to start immediately.

As NACAC nears the end of its term in August 2025, this recommendation comes amid increased allegations about corruption in the criminal justice system. We are in a moment when leadership, independence, and building trust in South Africa’s justice institutions matter.

Will President Cyril Ramaphosa seize this moment to fulfil his promises to establish a new anti-corruption agency? South Africa’s long-awaited anti-corruption reform moment could be just around the corner.

This article was republished with permission from ISS Today, the original article can be found here.

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Across all briefings, a consistent message emerged: progress has been made, but systemic delays, institutional coordination challenges, and legal bottlenecks continue to hamper the timely resolution of corruption cases.

SIU Reports on Thousands of Referrals but Highlights Tracking Challenges

The SIU, mandated to investigate maladministration and corruption in state institutions, reported that it had referred 3,374 criminal matters to the NPA between April 2020 and May 2025. These referrals span local, provincial and national government departments, as well as numerous state-owned entities.

The unit emphasised that each referral represents a person or legal entity, not necessarily an individual case docket. This has led to difficulties reconciling figures with the NPA, which clusters individuals and entities into broader cases.

To address this, the SIU has developed a Case Monitoring Mechanism in collaboration with the Presidency and State Information Technology Agency (SITA). The new digital platform went live in April 2025 and aims to create a unified system for tracking referrals, standardising case references, and reporting progress across institutions. The pilot phase covers referrals to the North Gauteng office of the NPA and will be evaluated in July for national rollout.

The SIU confirmed that the offences under referral include corruption, fraud, money laundering, public finance violations, and misconduct related to procurement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hawks Outline Ongoing Investigations Involving Billions in State Funds

Major General M. Makinyane of the Hawks told SCOPA that his unit is managing 355 dockets arising from SIU referrals, representing investigations involving a wide array of departments and public entities.

Out of these:

• 72 cases have resulted in guilty verdicts
• 96 are before court
• 201 are under active investigation
• 58 await prosecutorial decision

The Hawks disclosed significant financial implications, with billions of rand potentially lost or misappropriated across key sectors. Notable figures include:

• Over R126 billion under investigation within the Department of Basic Education
• Nearly R738 million related to the Department of Water and Sanitation
• Around R437 billion involving municipalities

COVID-19 procurement fraud remains a substantial focus. Of 93 pandemic-related cases, 22 are before court with 73 accused (48 individuals and 25 corporate entities). Another 59 cases are still under investigation.

The National Lotteries Commission (NLC) is also under scrutiny. Eight SIU referrals have resulted in seven active dockets and one court case involving questionable funding to non-profit entities.

NPA Reports on Prosecutions, Challenges, and High-Profile Cases

The NPA, represented by its Specialised Commercial Crime Unit (SCCU), IDAC and the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU), outlined the prosecution pipeline stemming from SIU referrals.

Key Highlights:

• 81 convictions in COVID-19-related prosecutions, many processed through the Fusion Centre
• 26 dockets under active investigation involving the NLC
• Major corruption trials stemming from State Capture Commission recommendations, including Transnet, Bosasa, and Estina Dairy Project

Several high-profile individuals, such as former Transnet CEO Brian Molefe, former CFO Anoj Singh, and former MP Vincent Smith, are either on trial or facing future court dates. The NPA noted, however, that some trials have been delayed by complex pre-trial motions or Section 342A inquiries, risking further postponements or even permanent stays of prosecution if not resolved efficiently.

Asset Forfeiture: Billions Frozen or Recovered, but Legal Opposition Mounts

The Asset Forfeiture Unit presented an assertive recovery record, reporting:

• 86 confiscation or forfeiture orders, totalling R4.784 billion
• 124 preservation orders, worth R12.6 billion
• Total recoveries to date of R4.3 billion

These include:

• R2.55 billion recovered from ABB in connection with Eskom contracts
• R480 million from settlements in the Tegeta/Optimum Colliery saga
• R1.115 billion from the McKinsey consultancy settlement
• Various preservation and restraint orders against assets linked to PRASA, Ethekwini Municipality, Denel, and others

The AFU stressed that while asset recovery is accelerating, many cases are heavily contested in court. For example, multiple preservation orders related to Lottery funding have been subjected to prolonged legal opposition.

The AFU also recommended possible legislative reform to the SIU Act, which currently channels all referrals through the NPA rather than directly to investigating authorities, thus adding procedural delays.

Despite the complexity and obstacles involved, the coordinated presentations painted a picture of a criminal justice system that is attempting to recalibrate itself in response to the sprawling legacy of State Capture. SCOPA was urged to continue its oversight, particularly regarding the Case Monitoring Mechanism and broader institutional coordination.

All agencies agreed on the need for sustained collaboration, policy reform, and adequate resourcing to maintain momentum in the fight against corruption. With several high-profile cases moving to trial in late 2025 and early 2026, South Africa’s legal and accountability frameworks are entering a decisive phase in their response to past public sector malfeasance.

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This, according to the SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago, is a testament to its commitment to fighting the scourges of corruption, maladministration and malpractice.

Kganyago said the amount is inclusive of a record recovery of funds in actual cash amounting to R2.28 billion – the highest recovery in the corruption busting unit’s 27-year history.

“In addition to these recoveries, the SIU prevented a further R2.32 billion in potential state losses and secured cash to be recovered from the acknowledgement of debt and admission of liability agreements to the value of R1.6 billion.

“In our pursuit of rectifying irregular administrative decisions, the SIU successfully set aside contracts and administrative action worth over R2.13 billion through the Special Tribunal and the High Court of South Africa. This legal action ensures that public funds are recovered, not squandered, and redirected to serve their intended public purposes.

“The SIU continues to safeguard the public purse and ensure that state resources are protected and used for the benefit of all South Africans. We call on all South Africans to be involved in the fight against corruption,” Kganyago said.

In a statement, the unit said the bulk of the recoveries come from investigations into Transnet, Eskom and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

“The Transnet recoveries amounted to R710 104 826.03, R500 000 000 from Eskom, and the NSFAS investigation totalled R191 027 281.50 by the end of the 2023/24 financial year.

“In terms of matters, contract and/or administrative decisions and/or actions set aside or deemed invalid, contracts emanating from the Eskom investigation contributed the most, with the contract value of R1 206 984 667.56,” the SIU said.

Successes in the medico-legal investigation also account for some R1.98 billion of prevented losses.

The SIU closed more than 1900 cases during the 2023/24 financial year and handed over 26 comprehensive reports to President Cyril Ramaphosa on the outcomes of investigations.

“The SIU has referred evidence for the institution or defence/opposition of civil proceedings worth R4.8 billion. This includes, amongst others, matters regarding R2 billion from Eskom, R834 million from Transnet, R29.1 million from the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and R48.4 million from the City of Cape Town,” the unit said in a statement.

The SIU said it was committed to partnering with other law enforcement agencies to combat corruption.

“These referrals reflect the unit’s ongoing efforts to ensure consequences for those who engage in corruption, maladministration and fraud. To ensure accountability for government officials involved in wrongdoing, SIU referred 297 officials to respective state institutions for disciplinary action,” the statement read.

The corruption busting unit is now within the fifth year of its turnaround strategy and has vowed to keep up the fight against criminality.

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This after President Cyril Ramaphosa signed proclamations 181, 182, 183 and 184 of 2024, authorising the SIU to investigate allegations of serious maladministration within Transnet, the Gauteng Provincial Department of Human Settlement, the Umzumbe Local Municipality, and Masilonyana Local Municipality and to recover any financial losses suffered by the State.

Proclamation 184 of 2024

Proclamation 184 of 2024 authorises the SIU to investigate allegations of serious maladministration related to Siyabonga Gama’s reinstatement as Chief Executive Officer of Transnet Freight Rail in February 2011 and the payment of Gama’s legal costs following his reinstatement.

This includes any unauthorised, irregular, or wasteful expenditure incurred by Transnet concerning these matters.

“SIU is also authorised to probe allegations of serious maladministration in the procurement of or contracting for goods, works, or services of leased accommodation by Transnet and payments made about it in a manner that examines explicitly whether Transnet officials or agents acted corruptly or unduly to benefit themselves or others, leading to unauthorised, irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditures or financial losses for Transnet,” SIU spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago said.

Kganyago said the SIU will also investigate any unauthorised, irregular, or fruitless and wasteful expenditures incurred by or losses suffered by Transnet or the state about the contract for security services related to cable theft and preventing criminal activities against Transnet Freight Rail.

The contract was awarded to Abalozi Security Risk Advisory Services (Pty) Limited (formerly known as General Nyanda Security Advisory Services (Pty) Limited).

“The Proclamation covers allegations of unlawful and improper conduct that occurred between 1 January 2007 and 13 September 2024, as well as any related activities before 1 January 2007 and after the date of the Proclamation that are pertinent to the matters under investigation or involve the same persons, entities, or contracts,” Kganyago said.

Proclamation 183 of 2024

Proclamation 183 of 2024 authorises the SIU to investigate allegations of maladministration in procuring seven contracts at the Umzumbe Local Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal Province.

The tenders under scrutiny include the construction of the Umzumbe municipal offices; rehabilitation of the Qwabe, Cabhane, Mabheleni, Magabha, Sgananda and Ndletshe Roads; construction of the Isipofu Access Road; construction work at the Ntelezi Msani Heritage Centre; construction of the Nkanini Indoor Sports Centre; construction of the  Ntatshana Access Road and bridge; and the three-year Electrification Turnkey Project (2015 to 2018), by or on behalf of the municipality.

“The SIU will investigate any unauthorised, irregular, fruitless, or wasteful expenditure incurred by the municipality or the State. The investigation will also cover any unlawful or improper conduct by municipality officials, employees, suppliers, service providers, or any other involved parties.

“Additionally, the probe will examine the performance, poor performance, defective performance, or late performance by the service providers appointed by the municipality regarding the services delivered, performed, or rendered as part of the projects,” Kganyago explained.

The Proclamation covers allegations of unlawful and improper conduct that occurred between 1 January 2013 and 13 September 2024, as well as any related activities before 1 January 2013 and after the date of the Proclamation that are pertinent to the matters under investigation or involve the same persons, entities, or contracts.

Proclamation 182 of 2024

Proclamation 182 of 2024 directs the SIU to investigate allegations of maladministration with two tenders at the Masilonyana Local Municipality.

The investigation will examine whether municipal officials, including service providers, or any other involved parties unduly benefit themselves or others, leading to unauthorised, irregular, or fruitless and wasteful expenditure or financial losses for the municipality.

Kganyago said the contracts under scrutiny include the refurbishment of Brandfort Water Treatment Works and Raw Water Pump Stations; and upgrading of Brandfort Sport Centre Phase II.

“The Proclamation covers allegations of unlawful and improper conduct that occurred between 1 May 2020 and 13 September 2024, as well as any related activities before 1 May 2020 and after the date of the Proclamation that are pertinent to the matters under investigation or involve the same persons, entities, or contracts,” Kganyago said.

Proclamation 181 of 2024

Proclamation 181 of 2024 mandates the SIU to investigate allegations of maladministration of two tenders in the Gauteng Provincial Department of Human Settlement.

The SIU will investigate contracts including the procurement of, or contracting for,  goods, works and services for the construction of 150 ablution and sanitation infrastructure and facilities at Sicelo Shiceka informal settlement: Phase 1 and Evaton, and the procurement of, or contracting for goods, works and services about the construction of 180 walk units at Sicelo Shiceka extension five.

The probe will also examine whether the payments for these contracts adhered to National Treasury guidelines and ascertain whether the payments were irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditures or financial losses for the municipality or the State.

Kganyago said the Proclamation covers allegations of unlawful and improper conduct that occurred between 1 April 2017 and 13 September 2024, as well as any related activities before 1 April 2017 and after the date of the Proclamation that is pertinent to the matters under investigation or involves the same persons, entities, or contracts.

“Beyond investigating maladministration, corruption, and fraud, the SIU will identify systemic failures and recommend measures to prevent future losses. In line with the Special Investigating Units 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,” Kganyago explained.

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“Investigative capacity has been established to address extortion and violence at construction sites across the country, with a particular focus on KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and other areas where similar problems have been reported,” said Deputy President Paul Mashatile.

The Deputy President was engaging Members of Parliament (MPs) in the National Assembly on matters related to his delegated responsibilities.

In March this year, the Deputy President addressed the Criminal Justice System Review Conference where, amongst other important matters, criminality in the construction sector was highlighted.

“When delivering the keynote address, I stated the following: ‘Murderous construction mafia have brought many companies to their knees, and we must fight back to safeguard this industry’.”

Mashatile believes that a concerted effort from all is necessary to unravel the complex web of construction site disruptions, which endanger lives and impede government’s objectives of transforming the nation into a massive construction site that generates employment and expands the economy.

He told MPs that the police have partnered with various stakeholders, including State-owned entities (SOEs), government departments, private security companies and civil society to enhance their efforts in combating these criminal networks.

Mashatile reiterated government’s, commitment to addressing this challenge through the introduction of policies that will curtail and eliminate mafia in the construction sector.

These include the National Infrastructure Plan, the Critical Infrastructure Programme, the Social Facilitation Programme, and the Infrastructure Built Anti-Corruption Forum.

The Infrastructure Built Anti-Corruption Forum (IBACF), the Deputy President said, was another intervention that is yielding positive results in stopping criminal activities by the so-called “construction mafia”.

He explained that the IBACF was formed in 2020 and is aimed at monitoring infrastructure projects and putting systems in place to detect and prevent corruption.

The forum comprises civil society, representatives from the built environment, and various arms of government, including the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).

In addition, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, through the application of the Social Facilitation Concept which was approved by Cabinet in 2021, is conducting pilot projects like the Salvokop Precinct Strategic Infrastructure Project (SIP), which serves as a test case for integrating social facilitation into construction practices.

He explained that lessons learned will help further calibrate the framework.

“Given all the interventions I have outlined above, the challenge remains that the actual number of crimes committed by these mafias may be underreported, as witnesses and victims are often reluctant to come forward.

“It is crucial for communities, organisations, and businesses to work together with the South African Police Service to bring these criminals to justice.”

Meanwhile, he said top-class detective and crime intelligence work must be intensified to produce airtight prosecutions and see these crime bosses evicted, locked up and their proceeds of crime seized.

“The impact of these construction mafia on our nation’s development cannot be underestimated. The existence and activities of construction mafia significantly undermine the concept of a developmental State, as envisioned in the National Development Plan 2030.”

The Deputy President told Parliamentarians that these criminal organisations pose serious threats to public safety and the integrity of construction projects, which are essential for driving economic growth and development.

“As government, at all levels, we are committed to addressing this issue through independent investigations and partnerships with organisations like Business Against Crime South Africa, but most importantly with civil society organisations who live around and know these criminals.

“Let us stand together in the fight against these criminal organisations and work towards a safer and more prosperous South Africa for all living in it.”

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According to Macpherson, the report should detail who is to blame and what will be the best solution moving forward for the Telkom Towers to limit further wastage of taxpayer money.

Earlier this month, the Minister conducted an oversight inspection at the Telkom Towers.

The building was procured to serve as the South African Police headquarters in 2016 to the tune of nearly R700 million. Officials say to date, over R200 million has been spent on renovations and other services but the building remains empty due to lapses.

Addressing the media in Cape Town on Wednesday, Macpherson said in the coming weeks, a tender for a second independent investigation will be released to investigate leases which have been established by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to ensure that these leases were completed within the confines of the law and that the state is paying market-related prices for each.

“Shortly after my appointment, we initiated an investigation into an R300 million IT security breach that spans a decade. The investigation builds on the work Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala started earlier this year when vulnerabilities were discovered in the department’s Information and Technology Systems,” the Minister said.

Macpherson said preliminary reports since the extent of the security breach was found suggest that the amount of money stolen over the period confirms the seriousness of the matter.

Macpherson has further authorised the department’s legal services to assist the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) with litigation at the Special Tribunal to recover up to R20 million against Kroucamp Plumbers.

“This case involves tenders received by Kroucamp Plumbers in 2015 and 2018, where procurement processes were found to be unlawful and unconstitutional.

“The SIU discovered that payments were made to officials in our department amounting to over R300 000, and these actions are indicative of corruption that we are determined to root out,” the Minister said.

Macpherson said his goal is to make the department play a central role in using public assets for the public good and to help turn South Africa into a construction site which will ignite economic growth and create jobs.

“Over the past eight weeks, I believe we have started to lay the foundation for the work to begin to see cranes in the sky all over South Africa,” Macpherson said.

Central to the department’s strategy for increased infrastructure investment is to see the expansion and the capacitation of Infrastructure South Africa (ISA).

“We want to ensure that ISA functions as the single point of entry for all priority infrastructure projects, streamlining processes and reducing inefficiencies that have previously hampered project delivery,” Macpherson said.

This will not only improve efficiency but also ensure that the department prioritise projects with the greatest economic and social impact.

“And, this will increase investor confidence in public infrastructure projects, knowing that where Infrastructure South Africa is involved, construction projects are completed on time and within budget.

“We are accelerating broader budget reforms by collaborating with the National Treasury to streamline the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) process and establish an Infrastructure Fund that reports directly to the National Treasury.

“We are diversifying funding sources for infrastructure projects by focusing on PPPs, blended finance, and social infrastructure programmes. ISA will work closely with the National Treasury to direct investments toward projects with the highest GDP [gross domestic product] impact and job creation potential,” the Minister said.

The Minister said as the department pushes forward with reforms to ignite infrastructure investment, it was important that the department get its own house in order to ensure that it delivers on the core mandate.

“Accountability and transparency should be at the core of everything we do, while we work to eliminate corruption and abuse in all spheres of our organisation.”

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