PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has mandated the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to scrutinise the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality (NMBMM).
The investigation focuses on allegations of severe maladministration concerning the street and floodlights tender contract.
President Ramaphosa signed Proclamation 170 of 2024, authorising the SIU to examine procurement and contracting processes for goods and services related to the supply, delivery, and off-loading of LED street lighting and flood lighting luminaires.
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The inquiry will also address any payments made in a manner that was not fair, competitive, transparent, equitable, or cost-effective.
"The SIU will also investigate any unauthorised, irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditure incurred by the NMBMM or the state. The scope of the investigation also covers any unlawful or improper conduct by officials or employees of the NMBMM, applicable suppliers or service providers or any other person or entity," SIU spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said.
The investigation's scope extends to any unlawful or improper conduct by officials or employees of the NMBMM, involved suppliers or service providers, or any other related person or entity.
He noted that the Proclamation covers allegations of unlawful and improper conduct occurring between 1 November 2020 and 12 July 2024, the date of the publication of the Proclamation, or prior to 1 November 2020 and subsequent to the Proclamation date, which are relevant to, connected with, and incidental to the matters or involve the same persons, entities, or contracts investigated.
Kganyago said in addition to investigating maladministration, malpractice, corruption and fraud, the SIU will identify system failures and make systematic recommendations to improve measures to prevent future losses.
"In line with the Special Investigating Units and the Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996 (SIU Act), the SIU will refer any evidence pointing to criminal conduct it uncovers during its investigations to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action," he said.
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