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President Cyril Ramaphosa
- Four new Special Commercial Crime Courts will be established to deal with corruption cases related to Covid-19.
- Sars is investigating estimated tax revenue losses of R300 million.
- The SIU is studying 1,274 contracts.
Four new Special Commercial Crimes Courts will be established to deal with corruption cases related to Covid-19, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced at the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Tuesday.
In response to a question from ANC MP Maurencia Gillion, Ramaphosa said the government had “responded quickly and decisively to allegations of corruption in the award of contracts related to Covid-19.”
It added that the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) was investigating 932 cases under the proclamation issued in July and all were in different stages of investigation.
“The SIU, to date, has provided me with two interim reports that describe the progress of the investigations, including where the investigations have been completed.”
He said:
Reports of SIU investigations will be made public once all necessary processes have been completed and there is no risk of jeopardizing ongoing investigations.
Ramaphosa said that the SA Revenue Service (Sars) had established a Covid-19 project team to investigate and audit cases.
At the end of September, there were 307 cases with an estimated loss of tax revenue of R300 million and 139 companies were referred for possible tax evasion investigations.
“The increase in serious business crimes and incidents of corruption in Covid-19 acquisitions has meant that we are accelerating the establishment of additional Special Commercial Crime Courts and increasing the capacity of existing ones.”
SIU knows ‘what is at stake’
“We are looking to establish more Special Commercial Crime Courts in Polokwane, Mbombela, Mahikeng, Mthatha and Mangaung,” he added.
DA deputy Tim Brauteseth asked him for an update on the SIU investigations.
“The Special Investigation Unit has made progress in its investigations since the proclamation was issued on July 23, 2020,” Ramaphosa said.
“The SIU is currently investigating 1,274 contracts from 85 departments, provinces, municipalities and public entities.
“To date, it has referred 34 criminal matters to the National Prosecutor’s Office and 33 disciplinary referrals to state institutions.”
He said:
The SIU has initiated cases in the Special Court for the cancellation of contracts worth R223 million and the recovery of funds.
“Investigations are ongoing. As I noted above, SIU reports will be made public once all necessary processes have been completed and there is no risk of jeopardizing ongoing investigations.”
Ramaphosa commended SIU for its excellent work under difficult conditions.
“They know what is at stake. It is the spirit of our country, that is what is at stake,” he added.
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