BHISHO- President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate five tenders awarded by the Eastern Cape Department of Public Works and Infrastructure amid allegations of serious maladministration, corruption, irregular expenditure and improper loss of public funds.
The probe follows the signing of Proclamation 344 of 2026, which gives the SIU powers to investigate the procurement and contracting processes surrounding the tenders and where wrongdoing and financial losses are established to pursue the recovery of public funds.
The investigation will focus on five contracts involving road infrastructure, emergency works and security services.
These include the upgrading of Road DR08125 from the N2 to Sipetu Hospital, Phase 1, covering 10km; the urgent re-gravelling of DR18033 and DR08288 and emergency preparations for a road, platform and parking area for the funeral of former Gauteng Economic Development MEC Nkosiphendule Kolisile.
The SIU will also investigate emergency gravelling on DR08076 for flood-damage repairs to gravel roads in the Elundini local municipal area, as well as the appointment of service providers to provide security services for the department’s head-office clusters for 36 months.
Furthermore, the investigation will be whether the procurement processes and subsequent contracts complied with public procurement laws and Treasury requirements.
The SIU will examine whether the processes were fair, competitive, transparent, equitable and cost-effective or whether they were conducted in breach of applicable legislation, Treasury instructions and the department’s own policies and procedures.
It will also investigate whether officials, employees or agents of the department, service providers or other parties may have engaged in improper or unlawful conduct to secure an undue or corrupt benefit for themselves or another person or entity.
The investigation will include allegations of fraud and any unauthorised, irregular or fruitless and wasteful expenditure that may have been incurred by the department or the state.
According to the proclamation, the investigation covers the period from 01 January 2021 to 09 September 2026.
The SIU’s powers extend beyond simply examining the contracts. Under the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996, the unit can institute civil proceedings before the Special Tribunal or the High Court and take steps to recover financial losses suffered by the state.
In addition SIU can also institute civil proceedings in its own name where its investigation uncovers wrongdoing linked to corruption, fraud or maladministration.The investigation does not, in itself mean that any individual or company involved in the tenders has been found guilty of wrongdoing. The SIU’s role is to establish whether the allegations have merit, identify any unlawful conduct and determine whether public funds were improperly lost.
The investigation could ultimately place renewed scrutiny on procurement practices within the Eastern Cape Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, particularly around emergency procurement and major road-related contracts.
Eastern Cape Daily News will continue to follow the investigation and report on any findings or developments arising from the SIU probe.
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