Pretoria – The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) will investigate allegations of serious maladministration at the Department of Home Affairs and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa).
SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the probe would include improper or unlawful conduct by officials or employees
of the state entities, and to recover any financial losses suffered by the state.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed two proclamations authorising the SIU to probe Home Affairs and Prasa.
Proclamation 154 of 2024 empowers the SIU to probe serious maladministration at Home Affairs relating to the issuance of permanent residence permits, corporate visas, business visas, critical/exceptional skills work visas, study visas, retired persons’ visas, work visas, and citizenship by naturalisation.
The SIU will probe the issuing of such visas contrary to the Immigration Act, 2002; the South African Citizenship Act, 1995; manuals, guidelines, circulars, practice notes, or instructions applicable to home affairs; or manuals, policies, procedures, prescripts, instructions or practices of or applicable to the department.
“The SIU will also investigate improper or unlawful conduct by officials or employees of Home Affairs in relation to the installation of T200 firewalls,” said Kganyago.
“The proclamation also empowers the SIU to investigate any irregular, unlawful or improper conduct by officials or employees of Home Affairs or any other person or entity, in relation to the allegations being investigated.”
The proclamation covers allegations of unlawful and improper conduct that took place between 12 October 2004 and 16 February 2024, the date of the publication of the Proclamation.
The proclamation also covers allegations before 12 October 2004 and any other date relevant to, connected with, incidental to the matters or involving the same persons, entities, or contracts investigated.
In another development, Proclamation 153 of 2024 empowers the SIU to probe offences that were committed at Prasa in relation to the awarding of tenders for the supply of various train locomotives to Swifambo Rail Leasing Pty Ltd.
The SIU is also going to look into the supply and maintenance of an integrated security access management system at various train stations to Siyangena Technologies Pty Ltd.
The SIU will also investigate serious maladministration in the affairs of Prasa relating to fraudulent liability claims processed and paid by Prasa’s Group Insurance Department, including claims paid as one-time vendor payments.
The probe will also extend to the employment of ghost employees identified by Prasa’s Project Zivese in August 2021.
The proclamation covers allegations of unlawful and improper conduct that took place between 1 January 2010 and 16 February 2024, and any other date connected with, incidental to the matters or involves the same persons, entities, or contracts investigated.
In addition to investigating maladministration, malpractice, corruption, and fraud, the SIU would identify system failures and make systematic recommendations to improve 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 pointing to criminal conduct it uncovers during its investigations to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action,” Kganyago said.
