SIU investigates Department of Defence over mask tender corruption claims
President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed a new proclamation authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate allegations of maladministration in the affairs of the Department of Defence and to recover any losses suffered by the State.
Proclamation 260 of 2025 authorises the SIU to investigate serious maladministration, focusing on irregularities linked to Bid Number CPSC-UB-M-013-2021 for the supply and delivery of surgical mask elastic loops.
'The SIU probe will examine whether the procurement and contracting were made in a manner that was not fair, competitive, transparent, equitable, or cost-effective or in violation of applicable legislation, guidelines, or instructions from the National or Provincial Treasury.
'This includes the department's or the State's unauthorised, irregular, or wasteful expenditure. Furthermore, the SIU will seek to establish if there was any misappropriation of unidentified payments received by the department,' said the SIU in a statement today.
The probe will also look at any irregular, unlawful, or improper conduct by officials or employees of the department, its suppliers or service providers, or any other person or entity implicated.
The SIU said the proclamation covers allegations of unlawful and improper conduct that occurred between March 1, 2021 and May 23, 2025, as well as any related activities before March 1, 2021 and after the date of the proclamation that are pertinent to the matters under investigation or involve the same persons, entities or contracts.
Beyond investigating maladministration, corruption and fraud, the SIU is committed to identifying systemic failures and recommending measures to prevent future losses.
In line with the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996 (SIU Act), the SIU will refer any evidence of criminal conduct uncovered during its investigation to the NPA for further action.
Under the SIU Act, the SIU is also authorised to initiate a civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal in its name to address any wrongdoing identified during its investigation resulting from acts of corruption, fraud or maladministration. – SAnews.gov.za
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