Special Investigating Unit (SIU) investigations into state spending on the government’s response to Covid 19 have identified assets totalling R551.5 million that need to be recovered.

So far, assets totalling just over R34 million have been recovered.

This emerges from a SIU report on Covid-related spending, published yesterday.

The unit investigated 5 467 contracts valued at R14.3 billion, and awarded to 3 066 service providers, according to News24.

President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised the publication of the final report on the SIU’s probe into more than 5 400 government contracts.

Investigations linked to 4 549 contracts have been finalised, with 2 803 of those agreements found to have been irregular. This amounted to 62% of the finalised investigations.

The Presidency said 45 matters, constituting a combined value of R2.1 billion, had been enrolled with the Special Tribunal on Corruption, Fraud and Illicit Money Flows.

The SIU has made the following referrals:

  • 224 referrals for disciplinary action against officials in government departments or entities.
  • 386 referrals to the National Prosecuting Authority, as well as three referrals for executive action.
  • 330 referrals for administrative action, which includes blacklisting.

In July 2020, Ramaphosa authorised the unit to investigate any allegations relating to the misuse of Covid-19 funds across all spheres of government. This followed several reports detailing alleged fraud and corruption.

The president said the SIU would refer any evidence of criminal activity to the National Prosecuting Authority.

The report doesn’t include details of ongoing investigations into allegations received by the SIU after the timeline set for matters to be included in the final report. The SIU expects these matters to be completed between March and April 2022.

The Presidency said the ‘value of potential loss prevented by the investigation was R114.2 million, while contracts set aside amount to R170.4 million’.

[Image: https://pixabay.com/photos/corona-coronavirus-covid-covid-19-5017617/]

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