SIU key achievements annual report 2017/2018
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is proud to announce that it has yet again received a clean, unqualified audit report for the 2017/2018 financial year by the Auditor General South Africa. The Unit prides itself in maintaining effective and efficient financial processes, systems, internal controls and policies to manage risks.
This year, the SIU met eight out of its nine targets and concluded 15 comprehensive investigations. The reports of these investigations have been submitted to the Presidency, as required by the SIU Act. These reports detail findings and recommendations in various state institutions and entities.
This achievement resulted in the SIU exceeding its target of completed investigations by 88% an increase from last year where 6 reports were submitted to the Presidency. As such, SIU Management remains committed to ensuring that investigation turnaround times and the completion and submission of reports to Presidency continue to improve.
The SIU is also mandated by legislation to institute and conduct civil proceedings in a Special Tribunal or any court of law seeking relief for the state institution concerned. As such, the SIU referred matters to Court to the value of R2,7 billion.
Working with the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (the Department) and in keeping with section 2 of the SIU Act to establish a Special Tribunal, efforts are under way by the Department to ensure that the Special Tribunal is fully operational in the 2018/2019 financial year, with a sufficient budget for the required infrastructure.
The re-establishment of the Special Tribunal will require for the SIU to identify matters that can immediately be heard to act speedily against offenders of maladministration or perpetrators of malpractice in a specialized court.
The year under review also saw further strengthened collaboration between the SIU and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), with 148 matters being referred for criminal prosecution, ensuring that the SIU exceeded its target to refer criminal matters by 97%.
In order to ensure that this target is not only met by significantly exceeded, the SIU and the NPA have agreed that they will develop a Prosecution Policy which will be signed by the Minister. The policy will guide the prosecution of matters referred to the NPA by the SIU. The SIU and the NPA will continue to monitor these in terms of the signed Memorandum of Understanding.
The Head of the SIU Advocate Mothibi indicated that “We are proud of our clean audit and wish to assure members of the public that the SIU will continue to be poised to fight corruption.” The new SIU strategy which has been adopted for the 2018/2019 financial year, will also place a premium on the impact of the SIU’s work.
In congratulating the SIU, Advocate Masutha Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development said, “I would like to thank Advocate Mothibi together with his Management team on the efforts undertaken during this financial year in meeting targets and in receiving a clean audit.”
Enquiries:
Nazreen Pandor
Head of Communications and Stakeholder Management
Special Investigating Unit
Tel: 012 843 0107
Cell: 079 516 1881
E-mail: npandor@siu.org.za
