SCOPA and SIU intensify fight against corruption

CAPE TOWN - Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) on Wednesday entered into a formal cooperation agreement in efforts to intensify the fight against corruption.

Signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Parliament, both parties however lamented that those who colluded as part of the State Capture project, are not being held accountable.

SCOPA Chairperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa said he hopes the MOU will strengthen Parliament’s oversight of the public purse.

Sealing their five-year relationship with the sixth parliament, the SIU said it hopes this MOU will help in stemming further losses from state coffers.

But SIU Head Andy Mothibi said the lack of consequence management has been disappointing.

He said that reports and recommendations are gathering dust and those responsible for the graft are getting away with it. 

"We have to make sure that we bring out appropriate findings that will ensure that criminal prosecution is followed, civil litigation is followed and disciplinary action and of course other consequences."

Meanwhile, Hlengwa said the agreement will be overseen by at least two MPs and two SIU officials.

"This is not a political process. there’s no interference by us. It’s an administrative process."

He highlighted that SCOPA's quasi-inquiry into a covert intelligence report on Eskom, as one area where Parliament has collaborated well with the SIU to get to the bottom of the maladministration allegations made by former CEO Andre De Ruyter.