‘ Good progress’ made in PPE probes
• Special Investigating Unit has wrapped up probes of PPE contracts worth R3.5bn
The Special Investigating Unit, tasked with investigating improprieties in the acquisition of personal protective equipment (PPE), has completed investigations of 164 contracts worth R3.5bn. Head of the unit Andy Mothibi, speaking during a webinar on Sunday evening, said they had made “good progress” in probing Covid-19 procurement corruption in the country despite internal challenges pertaining to resources.
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU), tasked with probing improprieties in the acquisition of personal protective equipment (PPE) needed to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, has completed investigations of 164 contracts worth R3.5bn.
Speaking during a webinar entitled “When Covid-19 and corruption intersect” on Sunday evening, head of the unit, advocate Andy Mothibi, said they had made “good progress” in probing Covid-19 procurement corruption in the country despite internal challenges pertaining to resources.
Mothibi said 1,541 contracts or 51% of the investigation, worth a combined R6.8bn, was still under investigation.
The issue of Covid-19 procurement corruption forced President Cyril Ramaphosa to sign a proclamation authorising the SIU to investigate the allegations.
The president has also established an interministerial committee to investigate all the PPE transactions.
Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Khusela Diko took leave in July after her husband’s company was linked to a multimillionrand contract to supply PPE in Gauteng. Gauteng health MEC Bandile Masuku also lost his job as a result of the contract.
Mothibi said: “Since the president signed a proclamation for the SIU to investigate these contracts, we have galvanised the resources, which I [ think forms part of] some of [the] challenges we face. Internally [we have] had to [reprioritise funds] from other investigations [which has allowed us to make] significant progress in this Covid-19 investigation.”
He said there were about 10 matters that were before the Special Tribunal.
“They are valued at R259m. The matters are under way to be adjudicated by the Special Tribunal for purpose of recovering those funds. We are of the view that the progress made sends out a positive message … that we will not relent in dealing with wrongdoing in Covid-19 investigations,” Mothibi said.
National director of public prosecutions Shamila Batohi, who also addressed the same webinar, spoke of the huge challenges that the law enforcers were facing.
IMMENSE CHALLENGES’
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She said her directorate’s role was to investigate and prosecute, and hold people accountable, “so that there are consequences ”.
“The other part is to get back the money. In dealing with both of this, the challenges are immense. Resources remain a challenge.”
Because most work happened in the regions, Batohi said they wanted to capacitate them to have seamless cooperation between the regions and her office.
The other challenges they faced related to investigative and prosecutorial capacity. The Covid-19 pandemic meant “we were not able to recruit as fast as possible”, said Batohi.
She said SA was working with law enforcement agencies from other countries to clamp down on illicit financial flows.
“We are training and capacitating prosecutors and investigators to understand how money moves globally, and understanding the framework of trying to bring back the money,” said Batohi.
“Bringing back the money will instil confidence because the money that was stolen was destined for the poor and vulnerable, to provide basic infrastructure and services. It was destined to improve the lives of the poor and vulnerable, but it went into the pockets of a few, powerful and rich entities.”
Batohi said they will not be distracted in bringing wrongdoers to book. “This is not a political issue, it’s a law enforcement, rule of law issue. We have to bring back the money.”
Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation head Godfrey Lebeya said they recruited more than 100 staffers in November. He said they want to increase their human capital to operate efficiently.
WE ARE OF THE VIEW THAT THE PROGRESS MADE SENDS OUT A POSITIVE MESSAGE … THAT WE WILL NOT RELENT IN DEALING WITH WRONGDOING