Elite unit to probe Prasa, home affairs

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has been authorised to investigate allegations of maladministration and unlawful conduct by officials at the department of home affairs and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa).

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed two proclamations authorising probes. The unit also has the goal of recovering any financial losses of the state going back at least 10 years in the case of homes affairs and 14 years in the case of Prasa.

“The SIU will also investigate improper or unlawful conduct by officials or employees of home affairs in relation to the installation of T200 firewalls,” a statement from the SIU read.

“Proclamation 154 of 2024 empowers the SIU to probe serious maladministration in connection with the affairs of home affairs relating to the issuance of permanent residence permits; corporate visas; business visas; critical/exceptional skills work visas; study visas; retired persons’ visas; work visas; and citizenship by naturalisation, contrary to the Immigration Act, 2002; the SA Citizenship Act, 1995; manuals, guidelines, circulars, practice notes or instructions applicable to Home Affairs; or manuals, policies, procedures, prescripts, instructions or practices of or applicable to the department.”

The proclamation covers allegations of unlawful and improper conduct between 12 October, 2004 and 16 February, 2024, though investigations also cover dates before or after this period if they are relevant to matters, entities or contracts being investigated.

Proclamation 153 of 2024 empowers the SIU to probe offences committed against the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act of 2004 in connection with the affairs of Prasa in relation to the award of tenders for the supply of train locomotives to Swifambo Rail Leasing Pty Ltd, and the supply and maintenance of an integrated security access management system at train stations to Siyangena Technologies Pty Ltd.

“The SIU will also investigate serious maladministration in the affairs of Prasa relating to fraudulent liability claims processed and paid by Prasa’s group insurance department, including claims paid as one time vendor payments. The probe will also extend to ghost employees.

“The proclamation covers allegations of unlawful and improper conduct that took place between 1 January, 2010 and 16 February, 2024, the date of the publication of the proclamation or before 1 January 2010 and after the date of the Proclamation that are relevant to, connected with, incidental to the matters or involves the same persons, entities or contracts investigated.”

Evidence pointing to criminal conduct will be referred to the National Prosecuting Authority.

Benoni station lies in ruin despite a promise from Prasa in 2021 that it would be restored by the end of the 2023 fiscal year. But Prasa now says it is in “a design phase” with R7 million earmarked to restore the station.

In January, an Upington home affairs official was bust for allegedly selling illegal identity documents to foreigners. She was caught in action by the Anti-Corruption Investigating Unit.