Public works & infrastructure minister Dean Macpherson wants the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate allegations of mismanagement and irregular payments made in regard to the properties under the state’s management.
Of particular concern are allegations of mismanagement and irregular lease contracts entered into with private landlords as well as payment irregularities in relation to emergency day-to-day maintenance of facilities.
The government pays R6bn a year on leases and Macpherson said during a media briefing that he was concerned that the government was not getting value for money, and whether procurement regulations were being followed and there were government buildings in the vicinity that could be used.
The director-general of the public works and infrastructure department Sifiso Mdakane has asked SIU head Andy Mothibi to motivate for presidential proclamations for the investigation. SIU investigations are authorised by way of a presidential proclamation.
“A report by the auditor-general has revealed several instances of suspected mismanagement with private-sector lease agreements at the department that have resulted in recurring overpayments,” Macpherson said on Friday.
Macpherson wants the SIU to investigate the 10 highest paid landlords for the 2021/22 and 2022/23 financial years.
“The second investigation into emergency day-to-day maintenance of facilities has been requested after the department’s anti-corruption and fraud awareness unit received a number of corruption and fraud allegations, including inflated and fraudulent supplier invoices, multiple calls logged for the same service, incorrect classification as an emergency when the request is normal, and payment of services not rendered,” the statement said.
Macpherson has launched a campaign to root out corruption in the department, including an independent investigation into the failed Telkom Tower precinct in Tshwane where more than R900m has been spent, but the buildings remain unusable.
He has also expedited investigations into a R300m IT security breach that spans a decade and authorising the department’s legal services to assist the SIU with litigation at the Special Tribunal to recover up to R20mn against Kroucamp Plumbers who allegedly made payments to officials in the department amounting to more than R300,000.
Macpherson said these investigations alongside changes to disciplinary oversight would help to build a firm foundation for a clean and efficient department.
“Since I was appointed as minister two months ago, I vowed to bring an end to the era of corruption and wasteful expenditure within the department by taking serious actions to investigate any allegations and recuperate any wasted taxpayer money.
“The requests to the SIU are in line with this commitment to bring clean governance and ensure that public money is spent to the benefit of South Africans, not a select few criminals,” the minister said.
“We will be unable to turn SA into a construction site and use public assets for the public good unless we are able to root out corruption, remove ethically compromised public servants and ensure that public money is spent towards their intended goals. Every single cent is necessary to improve the lives of South Africans by expanding infrastructure projects, growing the economy and creating thousands of new jobs.”
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