Pretoria: President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed a new proclamation authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate allegations of maladministration at the Siyathemba Local Municipality, situated in the Northern Cape. The investigation aims to recover any losses the state suffered.
According to South African Government News Agency, Proclamation 295 of 2025 authorises the SIU to investigate maladministration concerning the procurement of printers, photocopy machines, and related equipment. The SIU will probe any related unauthorised, irregular, fruitless, or wasteful expenditure incurred by the municipality or the state. The contracting of goods and services will be scrutinised to determine if they were made in a manner that was not fair, competitive, transparent, equitable, or cost-effective, or if they violated applicable legislation, guidelines, or instructions from the National or Provincial Treasury.
The SIU stated that the probe will also examine 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 proclamation covers allegations of unlawful and improper conduct that occurred between 1 January 2016 and 31 October 2025, as well as any related activities before 1 January 2016 and after the date of the Proclamation that are pertinent to the matters under investigation or involve the same persons, entities, or contracts.
Beyond investigating maladministration, corruption, and fraud, the SIU is committed to identifying systemic failures and recommending 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.
Under the SIU Act, the SIU is also authorised 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.