PRETORIA — President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially authorised the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to launch a sweeping corruption and maladministration probe into a multi-millionrand road maintenance project under the North West Department of Public Works and Roads.
By signing Proclamation 340 of 2026, the President has granted the anti-graft body full powers to investigate allegations of serious maladministration, corruption, irregular expenditure, and the unlawful loss of public funds, with the explicit mandate to recover any financial losses suffered by the State.
The investigation focuses heavily on the procurement of and contracting for goods, works, or services related to Bid Number PWR 89/13. This specific tender, valued at R150 466 494,68 according to official notices, was allocated for Phase II of the special maintenance of Road P152/1, covering a 28-kilometre stretch from Setlagole to P34/4 in Delareyville.
Investigators will look into whether the procurement process, subsequent contracting, and related financial payments bypassed standard constitutional requirements of fairness, competitiveness, transparency, equity, and cost-effectiveness.
Furthermore, the SIU is tasked with determining if the multi-million-rand contract was deliberately tainted by unlawful conduct. Investigators are scrutinising whether departmental officials, employees, agents, or private service providers engaged in fraudulent activity to corruptly or unduly benefit themselves or outside entities.
The scope of the investigation is extensive, covering all related activities and financial transactions that took place between 9 March 2021 and 28 August 2026, the formal date of the Proclamation’s publication.
“In terms of the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act, 1996 (Act No. 74 of 1996), the SIU is empowered to investigate the allegations, institute civil proceedings in the Special Tribunal or High Court and take appropriate steps to recover financial losses suffered by the State.
“The SIU Act further empowers the Unit to institute civil proceedings in its own name before the Special Tribunal or High Court to address any wrongdoing identified during its investigation arising from acts of corruption, fraud or maladministration,” said the SIU in a statement.
