THE KZN Department of Sport, Arts and Culture is under investigation for serious maladministration and corruption.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed Proclamation 160 0F 2024, authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate allegations of serious maladministration and corruption in the affairs of the KZN Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and recover any losses suffered by the state or the department.
The proclamation authorises the SIU to probe the procurement of and contracting for serious maladministration for the construction of nine libraries and the panel of supplies of the supplies of books.
The nine libraries are Dukuduku Library, Nibela Modular Library, Kwankosi Khumalo Modular Library, Kwakhethat Modular Library, Mpempeni Modular Library, Ntunjambili Modular Library, Donny Dalton Modular Library, Mfekayo Modular Library, as well as Kwanzimakwe Modular Library.
SIU spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said the unit will also investigate any unauthorised, irregular, fruitless or wasteful expenditure incurred by the department of the state.
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“The scope of the investigation also covers any unlawful or improper conduct by department officials or employees, the applicable or service providers or any other person or entity which has caused or may cause serious harm to the interests of the public.
“The investigation will also establish whether there was any unlawful appropriation of expenditure of the public money,” said Kganyago.
He said that the proclamation covers allegations of unlawful and improper conduct that took place between 1 January 2020 and 28 March 2024, the date of the publication of the proclamation before 1 January 2020 and after the date of the proclamation that are relevant to, connected with, and incidental to the matters or involve the same persons, entities or contracts investigated.
KZN Department of Sport, Arts and Culture spokesman Nathi Oliphant told Daily Sun that the department has noted the announcement of the investigation instituted against it by the SIU.
“We shall therefore be guided by the process on the way forward,” he said.
