The Special investigating Unit says all the procurement wrong-doings exposed at the Madlanga Commission will ultimately be referred to it for further investigation.
Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) on Wednesday told Parliament it was interacting with the Madlanga Commission on matters that are emerging from the judicial inquiry that is currently underway.
Responding to questions at a meeting with the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa), SIU acting head Leonard Lekgetho said they were working together with the investigators from the Madlanga Commission.
“We talk from time to time in terms of providing information and they provide information to us. There is alignment of work,” Lekgetho said.
He was responding to EFF MP Ntombovuyo Mente when she asked whether the SIU was considering utilising the latest information from the Madlanga Commission to extend the scope of the proclamations that are being investigated.
“Are we having new proclamations to be added on the issues and transactions we hear from the Madlanga commission?” asked Mente.
Lekgetho said the procurement matters will ultimately be referred to the SIU for investigation.
“We will investigate them further when the commission comes to an end,” he said.
Scopa chairperson Songezo Zibi said the committee is meant to follow up on the referrals made by the Zondo Commission of Inquiry with the SIU, National Prosecuting Authority, and the Hawks.
“When they come let’s include these investigations as well,” said Zibi in reference to the SIU referrals on matters it probed in the councils.
“We are to have an opportunity to talk to the NPA, SIU and SAPS, specifically the Hawks, in terms of accounting for all the referrals, the Zondo Commission and SIU’s own referrals to the NPA.”
Zibi also said they would ensure that the institutions have consolidated presentations that talked to one another, so that they can examine the municipalities probed by the SIU.
“If we need to call them back or visit any of the municipalities to conduct intense oversight, let’s do that.”
Mente agreed that there was a need for intense oversight at the municipalities to conduct physical visits and get to see the actual projects the SIU and the Auditor-General have red flagged where corruption was taking place.
Mente added that Scopa should go with police on the oversight visits so that they can effect arrests when action was not taken against implicated officials.
“I think arrests must be effected. There is a lot that is happening. If the SIU referred officials and they are not dealt with by the municipality, criminal procedures must be done,” she said.
Zibi noted that some institutions felt a sense of safety because they are physically far from Parliament and think they cannot be reached.
“We got an opportunity to plan specifically on what we want, tell them what information we want ahead of time and tell them exactly what we want to be presented.”
He also said they could ask for raw documentation to be provided by the municipalities.
“When we get there, we must not be told waffle but focus specifically on things we want to talk about and see the projects we want to see,” Zibi added.
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