Ramaphosa tasks SIU to probe Covid-19 corruption
President Cyril Ramaphosa has promised to take a tough stance against coronavirus-related corruption, announcing several measures in dealing with those looting funds.
Millions are estimated to have been lost through the looting of government coffers since the start of the national Covid-19 lockdown.
On Thursday Ramaphosa slammed the widespread corruption, calling on decisive action to be taken against those implicated.
Ramaphosa said several projects had been set up to stop the country from bleeding funds.
“What concerns me and what concerns all South Africans are those instances where funds are stolen, where they are misused, where goods that we have to procure are overpriced, where food parcels are diverted from needy households, where there is corruption and mismanagement of public funds.
“Increasingly we are hearing allegations of the fraudulent UIF claims overpricing of goods and services, violation of emergency procurement regulations, collusion between officials and service providers, abuse of food parcel distribution and the creation of fake non-profit organisations to access relief funds.”
A centre has also been established to coordinate investigations.
The centre houses 9 state institutions including the Financial Intelligence Centres (FIC), Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
“We therefore out in place several preventative measures,” he said.
“In order to speed up and strengthen the process pf dealing with corruption, I have today signed a proclamation authorising the Special Investigating Unit to immediately investigate any unlawful or improper conduct in the procurement of any goods, any works or services during or related the national State of Disaster in any state institution,” Ramaphosa explained.
Ramaphosa vowed to throw the book at officials found guilty of misconduct.
“If the SIU finds evidence of a criminal offense that has been committed, it will be obliged to refer such evidence to the Prosecuting Authority.”
Recently the KwaZulu-Natal government came under fire after officials were accused of looting of Covid-19 funds.
A forensic investigation into the procurement process for protective equipment and blankets amounting to millions of rands by the Social Development Department was found to be irregular.