SIU to complete its investigation into Parliament upgrades irregularities by March

CAPE TOWN - The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) expects to complete its investigations into irregularities in the upgrades to Parliamentary offices and accommodation by March next year.

It is investigating the irregular awarding of contracts, budget overruns and poor workmanship of contracts worth more than a billion rand.

On Friday the SIU briefed Parliament's Public Works Committee on progress made in investigations into the department’s so-called "prestige" portfolio.

Even before Parliament’s National Assembly Chamber and adjacent offices were destroyed by fire, it began upgrading and renovating other buildings on the precinct and MPs' residential accommodation.

Dozens of new offices and meeting rooms have since been created for political parties in a building known as 90 plein at a cost of R25 million, which is now subject to claims of procurement irregularities.

The SIU's preliminary findings from investigations into at least five contracts for renovation work at Parliament show there may have been irregular approvals for additional funds for the R519 million office refurbishments.

The same may also be true for R506 million spent on residential upgrades at Parliamentary villages.

SIU Chief Operating Officer Leonard Lekgetho: "The challenges that we have faced relating to these matters, is that the delay occurred during the start phase of the project due to lack of cooperation by the former director general of the department and there was lack of cooperation by the department in the request of the upliftment of documents."

Lekgetho said the constant rotation of managers managing the prestige contracts has also stalled the investigations.