Latest news with #KaizerKganyago
The Citizen
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
SIU to investigate Defence department's surgical mask tender from 2021
The SIU will look for any irregularities relating to a tender for surgical mask elastic hoops. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has been given the green light to investigate a 2021 procurement contract signed by the Department of Defence (DoD). Authorisation for the investigation was approved on Friday, granting the SIU the mandate to look into any maladministration or irregularities that may have occurred between 1 March 2021 and 23 May 2025. Should the SIU identify any actions of concern, it will pursue civil litigation or refer matters to the National Prosecuting Authority for consideration of criminal charges. Surgical mask tender The tender in question relates to the supply and delivery of surgical mask elastic hoops procured at an undisclosed amount '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,' stated SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago. Democratic Alliance spokesperson on military and defence, Chris Hattingh, called for implicated officials to be suspended immediately, noting the Auditor-General's previous findings against the DoD. 'What's worse is the department's ongoing failure to act. Despite multiple oversight reports from Parliament, there's been zero meaningful effort from within to clean house,' said Hattingh. Investigation a 'turning point' This is not the first SIU investigation in the DoD, as serious alleged procurement irregularities relating to a R33.4 Cuban medicine deal were revealed earlier this year. The SIU stated in January that the DoD had signed a procurement agreement only after 930 units of antiviral drugs had been delivered from Cuba during the Covid-19 global health crisis. The antivirals were later found to be non-compliant with South African Health and Product Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) standards, and only 15 were ever used, five of which were for testing. 'South Africans deserve an armed forces institution they can believe in, not one broken by corruption and weak leadership,' stated Hattingh. 'This investigation must be a turning point. It's time to rebuild trust, restore integrity, and bring real accountability to the DoD,' he concluded. NOW READ: SIU is not done with NLC yet, as more corruption allegations emerge
Eyewitness News
26-05-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
SIU investigating defence dept over COVID-era tender
JOHANNESBURG - The Department of Defence is being investigated for a COVID-era tender related to the supply of elastic loops for surgical masks. President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed a proclamation for the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to probe a tender issued in 2021 by the Central Procurement Service Centre. The centre is a procurement unit within the defence department. SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said they were investigating whether there were any cases of maladministration on the part of the department or service providers. "The SIU probe will examine whether the procurement and contracting were made in a manner that is not fair, competitive, transparent, equitable, or cost-effective or in violation of applicable legislation, guidelines, or instructions from the National 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."
The Citizen
15-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
SIU investigating water contracts worth R6 billion
The Special Investigating Unit has had 14 water projects under scrutiny since 2012. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is leading the compliance fight to solve South Africa's water crisis. A newly launched Water Sector Anti-Corruption Forum (WSACF) held its first meeting to celebrate the SIU's work in the water sector. The forum is a part of a national anti-corruption strategy that focuses on protecting public projects vulnerable to corruption. New anti-corruption forum As South Africa's foremost anti-corruption arm, the body is obligated to lead the forum, which falls under a greater G20 anti-corruption umbrella. 'The WSACF is a strategic intervention aimed at developing tailored solutions to address corruption risks in the water sector,' stated SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago. This week, the SIU announced the collective outcomes of almost 13 years of investigations into the country's water projects. The SIU has investigated 13 water projects since 2012 and has one outstanding proclamation that still needs to be executed. 'With eight investigations completed and five still active, the need for a coordinated anti-corruption response in water management has never been clearer,' Kganyago added. SIU successes From the investigations, the SIU has recovered R569 million in undue gains, while R264 million in cash and asset recoveries are still pending Potential losses prevented are listed at R717 million, as the SIU boasts that contracts worth R1.1 billion have been set aside. The value of contracts under the microscope has been massive, with R6.2 billion worth of contracts signed since 2012 flagged for irregular or fraudulent actions. Consequences secured by the SIU include 270 matters being referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), as well as 140 referrals for disciplinary or administrative actions commissioned against business executives and government officials. Affected projects The Umngeni-Uthukela water project is responsible for 61 of those NPA referrals, with the matters currently with the Hawks. The 61 cases are tied to contracts worth R465 million for work ranging from the installation of pipelines to the replacement of filter slabs. A further 38 NPA referrals for fraud and forgery were tied to the Amatola Water Board, where R230 million was allocated for drought relief. Large private sector players linked to SIU investigations include four contracts with construction giants EOH, which has since repaid R160 million. 'EOH accepted liability without prejudice for R178 million. The repayment arrangement was a lump sum of R65 million, and a balance split into 36 monthly installments of R3.5 million,' the SIU stated. NOW READ: At least R900 billion needed to fix SA's water woes
IOL News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
South Africa launches new forum to combat water sector corruption
Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina welcomes the launch of the WSACF. Image: Supplied South Africa has taken a major step in its battle against corruption with the official launch of the Water Sector Anti-Corruption Forum (WSACF). The forum is a strategic initiative to address rising corruption risks in the country's water sector and is rooted in Pillar Six of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS), which focuses on protecting vulnerable sectors through robust risk management and accountability measures. Special Investigating Unit (SIU) spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the establishment of the WSACF is a whole-of-society call to action to root out corruption in water management. 'This collaborative model strengthens accountability, closes gaps, and implements measurable and actionable prevention plans.' said Kganyago. The forum brings together an unprecedented coalition of stakeholders from government departments, municipalities, civil society, regulators, traditional leaders, and the private sector, united by the common goal of ensuring clean, transparent water governance. This initiative follows the findings of 14 Special Investigating Unit proclamations involving the Department of Water and Sanitation, with eight investigations concluded and five still active. According to the SIU, these cases highlighted the urgent need for a coordinated anti-corruption response. The WSACF is also a direct response to international and continental commitments. It aligns with the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group's Priority Three, the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030's goals on water security, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The forum was launched shortly after South Africa assumed the chairpersonship of the Association of Commonwealth Africa Anti-Corruption Agencies from Ghana during a regional conference held in Cape Town. Adv. Andy Mothibi, Head of the SIU, now leads the association for the 2025–2026 term. Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, welcomed the initiative, noting that it builds on the department's existing corruption prevention strategy. 'The WSACF strengthens the collective resolve to tackle graft decisively in the water sector,' she said. The forum's key objectives include supporting sector-wide anti-corruption initiatives, improving investigative coordination, ensuring real outcomes such as prosecutions and recoveries, and promoting transparency within anti-corruption bodies themselves. The WSACF also builds on the tested success of similar sector-based forums, including those focused on health, infrastructure, local government, and border management. Independent evaluations of these forums have highlighted their role in improving accountability and delivering real results. The forum is now calling on water organisations, conservationists, academics, and community activists to join the movement. 'This is premised on the National Anti-Corruption Strategy, which envisages a whole-of-society approach,' said Kganyago. IOL News Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
eNCA
05-05-2025
- Politics
- eNCA
Anti-corruption conference opens in Cape Town
CAPE TOWN - The 15th Commonwealth Regional Conference of Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Africa has opened in Cape Town. READ: Fort Hare University fraud and corruption trial resumes It brings together officials from across the continent and aims to strengthen cooperation between governments and non-state entities to prevent and fight corruption. Special Investigating Unit spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago discussed this with eNCA.
