Often silent in public on murmurs of malfeasance in his government structures, President Cyril Ramaphosa sure is busy rooting out the rot behind the scenes.
SIU launches investigation into Limpopo municipality
While anti-Thuma Mina factionalists are ramping up the pressure to smear his public image, Ramaphosa has not faltered.
On Tuesday, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), led by Advocate Andy Mothibi, confirmed that the president gave the go-ahead for an investigation into “allegations of corruption and maladministration at the Mogalakwena Local Municipality in the Limpopo province.”
“The SIU investigations in the Municipality will look at transactions that took place between 1/4/2016 or after the date of publication of Proclamation (5 March), relevant to, or that involve the same persons, entities or contracts investigated under authority of the Proclamation,” the presidential investigative authority noted in a statement.
The probe, the SIU explained, will focus its attention on:
- serious maladministration in connection with the affairs of the Municipality;
- improper or unlawful conduct by officials or employees of the Municipality;
- unlawful appropriation or expenditure of public money or property;
- unlawful, irregular or unapproved acquisitive act, transaction, measure or practise having a bearing upon State property;
- intentional or negligent loss of public money or damage to public property; and
- unlawful or improper conduct by any person, which has caused or may cause serious harm to the interests of the public or any category thereof.
Limpopo Road Agency also placed under SIU microscope
Furthermore, the SIU announced, Ramaphosa granted the unit leeway to look into the state of affairs at the Limpopo Road Agency, after he amended Proclamation R12 of 2018.
In this investigation, the SIU will probe maladministration in the affairs of the Agency and any losses or prejudice suffered by the Agency. In particular, the SIU will look into the board chairperson’s (Matome Ralebipi) shoddy fee increase.