MPs question why SIU only recovered R3 billion in its 20 years of investigations
SCOPA on Tuesday criticised the SIU for only being able to recover just over R3 billion from the approximate R120 billion value of State contracts under scrutiny in two decades.
Special Investigating Unit (SIU) head, Advocate Andy Mothibi. Picture: SIU/Facebook
CAPE TOWN - Members of Parliament (MPs) questioned why the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) only recovered a few billions in 20 years from its many investigations.
The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) on Tuesday said the value of State contracts under scrutiny is too high for the SIU to only recover just over R3 billion in two decades.
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SCOPA received an update from the Presidency on the investigation reports submitted by the SIU, with some dating back to 2002.
The SIU told SCOPA on Tuesday that it managed to recover R3 billion, but the total value of contracts under scrutiny was about R120 billion.
Committee member, Alf Lees, noted how the recoveries were over two decades.
“Those recoveries, as I understand it, are over a 23-year period. Whilst I would happily retire on a R3.351 billion, in the big picture, it’s actually a very small amount of money.
SIU head, Andy Mothibi, agreed with Lees.
“I do want to concur that in the scheme, contracts that are in the high court and those now that are at Special Tribunal, at last count they were almost about R123 billion.”
Mothibi said they noticed the slow pace of matters being executed in the high court, but they were slowly starting to see progress.