‘Speed up probe into corruption’

Parliament urges law enforcement agencies

PARLIAMENT wants investigations into allegations of corruption by various law enforcement agencies in local government conducted urgently.

This comes after the cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) portfolio committee this week was briefed by the Special Investigative Unit (SIU), National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Directorate for Priority Crimes and the Department of Cooperative Governance.

A Cogta report revealed that fraud and corruption cases reported to the department and that were under investigation amounted to more than R1 billion.

The NPA report showed that out of its 64 cases, 18 were finalised, 21 were before courts and 25 others under investigation.

The SIU has concluded 32 investigations this year and 13 led to convictions and the recovery of R55 million.

Yesterday, committee chairperson Faith Mthambi raised concerns about the slow pace in the finalisation of these investigations.

“While the law enforcement agencies are following their processes on these investigations, the people on the ground are becoming impatient, and are protesting regularly to show their impatience,” Muthambi said.

She said they acknowledged the hard work by the NPA, but they wanted the processes of bringing the investigations to finalisation sped up.

She also said they wanted to see consequences in the looting of VBS Mutual Bank.

“As much as R2.5bn has been siphoned off involving more than 50 people, some of whom are municipal councillors and officials, and therefore we call on the law enforcement agencies to act with speed, to be methodical and thorough so that those implicated are brought to book.”

Muthambi also said her committee would provide support to the law enforcement agencies.

“We also want to say that where there is corruption at municipalities, we must root it out, as long as it is there, (because) it means communities will not get the basic services that are due to them.”

Freedom Front Plus MP Michael Groenewald said the probes once again highlighted the enormous extent of state capture and corruption in municipalities.

He noted an increase in investigations into corruption since 2017, and said cases being brought before court offered a ray of hope.

However, he said the priority should now be to include Auditor-General Kimi Makwetu with his newly expanded powers in the cooperative agreement involving other law enforcement agencies.

“The A-G already has extensive data of the financial irregularities at municipalities across the country at his disposal.

“The data must be used to identify criminal practices and speed up investigations into them,” Groenewald said.

DA MP Haniff Hoosen said his party was appalled by the brazen theft of public money in local governments and called for more convictions and harsh punishment for those who stole from the public.

People on the ground are becoming impatient and are protesting... Faith Muthambi COGTA PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON