President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday signed a new proclamation authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate allegations of maladministration relating to seven tenders involving the Mbombela local municipality, in Mpumalanga.

SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago explained that the Proclamation covered allegations of unlawful and improper conduct that occurred between 2015 and 2025, as well as any related activities before February 16, 2015 and after the date of the Proclamation related to the matters under investigation or involving the same persons, entities, or contracts.

Kganyago said the SIU would probe any related unauthorised, irregular, fruitless or wasteful expenditure incurred by the municipality or the State and whether the procurement and contracting were in violation of applicable legislation, guidelines, or instructions from the National or Provincial Treasury.

“…this includes the municipality's or the State’s unauthorised, irregular, or wasteful expenditure. Furthermore, the SIU will seek to establish if there was any misappropriation of unidentified payments received by the municipality,” he explained.

He added that the probe would also look at any irregular, unlawful, or improper conduct by officials or employees of the municipality, its suppliers or service providers, or any other person or entity implicated.

Beyond investigating maladministration, corruption, and fraud, Kganyago said the SIU was committed to identifying systemic failures and recommending 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 of criminal conduct uncovered during its investigation to the National Prosecuting Authority for further action,” he said.

He highlighted that under the SIU Act, the SIU was also authorised to initiate a civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal.