Kroonstad
President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed Proclamation 163 of 2024, authorising the Special
Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate allegations of serious maladministration in the affairs of the
Moqhaka Local Municipality, Free State Province and to recover any financial losses suffered by the
State or the Municipality.
Proclamation 163 of 2024 authorises the SIU to investigate procuring and contracting armed
physical security services in the Municipality.
The SIU will also investigate any unauthorised, irregular, fruitless, or wasteful expenditure incurred
by the department or the State. The scope of the investigation also covers any unlawful or improper
conduct by department officials or employees, the applicable suppliers or service providers, or any
other person or entity which has caused or may cause serious harm to the interests of the public.
Furthermore, the investigation will also establish whether there was any unlawful appropriation or
expenditure of public money.
The Proclamation covers allegations of unlawful and improper conduct that took place between 1
January 2019 and 12 April 2024, the date of the publication of the Proclamation or before 1 January
2019 and after the date of the Proclamation that are relevant to, connected with, and incidental to
the matters or involve the same persons, entities or contracts investigated.
In addition to investigating maladministration, malpractice, corruption and fraud, the SIU will
proactively identify system failures and make systematic recommendations to improve 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 pointing to criminal conduct it uncovers during its investigations to the
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action.
The SIU is empowered by the SIU Act to institute a civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal
in its name to correct any wrongdoing uncovered during its investigation caused by acts of
corruption, fraud or maladministration.
