DA opens R7.6 billion SIU investigation

Dear Editor

The DA has today opened an investigation with the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), into the R7,6 billion that the Limpopo Government has wasted or misspent in just 36 months.

Today I handed over a 1000 page dossier to the Special Investigative Unit for various statutory contraventions including possible fraudulent tenders. The SIU have agreed to begin a preliminary investigation, upon which they will report to the President.

This comes after the Limpopo Government has failed for the past three years to investigate and take action arising out of the R7.6 billion in irregular, unauthorised and fruitless & wasteful expenditure found against it by the Auditor –General over the last three financial years. The Limpopo Government has simply sat on its hands while billions of public money has disappeared down the drain.

In the SIU complaint I detail how the Limpopo government has contravened financial regulations and failed to apply or enforce consequence management at the Standing Committee for Public Accounts (SCOPA) with regards to the R7,6 billion. For failing to properly crack down internally on this gross misspending, the Limpopo Government must be taken to task.

It is clear that the Limpopo government under Premier Stan Mathabatha’s leadership has no will to investigate, remedy and recoup the misspent money lost over the last three years.

Our dossier which includes Auditor-General’s management reports and other financials, also names and shames individuals, and exposes the stubborn ineptitude of the Limpopo government to hold responsible officials, Heads of departments and MEC’s as well as the administrators of Limpopo’s section 100 intervention to full account.

I welcome that the SIU have confirmed their commitment to investigate the matter and to forward their preliminary findings to the President of the Republic for consideration and proclamation of an investigation in the Government Gazette.

The DA has a responsibility to ensure the provincial government upholds the rule of law and to challenge the gross malfeasance by public officials in the use of state resources.

We believe that the squandered billions would go a long way in addressing the developmental issues our more vulnerable members of the society face, and those responsible must be brought to book.

Regards

Jacques Smalle MPL
DA Limpopo Leader