During the Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) most recent presentation of its annual report, it was revealed that, in the past financial year, the unit has recovered cash and assets worth at least R1.8 billion. The report was presented to the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services.
Advocate Andy Mothibi, the SIU head, 15 investigative reports have been handed to President Cyril Ramaphosa for consideration.
“From the Presidency’s side, there is a decision that has been taken to release the SIU reports to the State institutions.
“The speed with which consequence management is done requires an improvement because although it’s happening, it’s happening at a slow pace,” he told Parliament.
Mothibi speaks about SA’s “culture of impunity”
During the presentation, Mothibi also assured the committee that the SIU is committed to “dealing with the culture of impunity” in government and State entities.
“The culture of impunity can be dealt with only when consequence management is implemented.
“We would like to ensure that that part is dealt with so that anyone – in any part of the organisation – is dealt with when they are found to be in the wrong.”
Why is Special Tribunal such an “important forum”?
According to Mothibi, Special Tribunal is an “important forum for the speedy conclusion of civil proceedings”.
“At the moment, there about 40 cases that have been issued at the Special Tribunal with a contract value of about R5 billion. Those cases are still to be adjudicated… to ensure that we recover from those contracts that have been set aside.
“Given the delays that we have observed in the past [in] taking matters to the high court, it is really questionable whether we would have achieved this speeding up of civil proceedings (sic)… The tribunal has been a game-changer in ensuring that we speed up civil litigation and recoveries.”
The SIU received another clean audit
And to end off, Mothibi boasted that the SIU has, for the fifth year in a row, received a clean audit.
“We look forward to upholding an important clean audit status for the future, as it attests to overall good governance in the institution. The SIU would not have achieved this clean audit and other outcomes without the continued commitment and hard work of all SIU members.
“We will continue to, at all times, uphold the principles of good governance, sound financial management, sound risk and legal management, integrity and prudence in all that we do and in the decision-making process.”
Media Statement: SIU recovers at least R1.8bn