President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed Proclamation R147 of 2024 authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate allegations of serious maladministration in the affairs of the Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency (ECRDA).

The SIU is also authorised to recover any financial losses suffered by the State and ECDRA.

‘Proclamation R147 of 2024 authorises the SIU to probe the procurement and/or contracting for goods, works or services concerning a tender for the planning and design of the Marine Tilapia Industry Incubator Project within the Mbhashe Local Municipality, by or on behalf of the ECRDA,’ said the SIU in a statement.

It will also investigate any unauthorised, irregular, or fruitless and wasteful expenditure incurred by ECRDA or the State.

The scope of the investigation also covers any unlawful or improper conduct by officials or employees of ECRDA, the applicable suppliers or service providers or any other person or entity.

The Proclamation covers allegations of unlawful and improper
conduct that took place between 1 February 2020 and 26 January 2024, the date of the publication of the Proclamation or before 1 February 2020 and after the date of the Proclamation that are relevant to, connected with, incidental to the matters or involves the same persons, entities or contracts investigated.

In addition to investigating maladministration, malpractice, corruption and fraud, the SIU said it would identify system failures and make systematic recommendations to improve 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 pointing to criminal conduct it uncovers during its investigations to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action,’ it said.

The SIU is empowered by the SIU Act to institute civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal in its name to correct any wrongdoing uncovered during its investigation caused by acts of corruption, fraud or maladministratio
n.

Source: South African Government News Agency