IN a recent session with the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, Advocate Andy Mothibi, the head of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), provided a comprehensive overview of the unit's 2022/23 annual report on Tuesday, 17 October.
During the briefing, Mothibi revealed that the SIU had submitted a total of 21 reports to the Presidency on the outcomes of investigations relating to allegations of corruption, maladministration, and malpractice in the affairs of state institutions.
Mothibi said as a statutory body with a mandate to investigate, recover assets and financial losses suffered by the state, and to prevent further losses, the SIU had recovered actual cash and assets worth R 389 million between April 2022 and March 2023.
He said they have also prevented financial losses of R 2,1 billion, instituted 35 civil action matters in the Special Tribunal to the value of R 2,4 billion, and had R300 million worth of contracts or administrative decisions set aside or deemed invalid.
ALSO READ: Freedom fighter Chief Phiriphiri honoured!
Mothibi said one of the reports submitted to the Presidency is an interim report on an investigation in the affairs of the University of Fort Hare.
He said the university is facing allegations of maladministration in the awarding of honors degrees, mismanagement of funds, and sourcing of public servants for study into various faculty programmes by an individual for personal gain.
He also said another report submitted is on the procurement of or contracting for the supply and erection of prefabricated mobile classrooms, laboratories, and water tanks at schools by the Eastern Cape Department of Public Works on behalf of the provincial education department.
He further reported that during the financial year under review, the SIU made 376 disciplinary referrals against officials at various state institutions and 680 referrals were made to the relevant prosecuting authority for consideration.
