The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is probing tender irregularities in Mpumalanga’s Education Department. It’s investigating alleged corruption related to six tenders.

Apparently, irregular payments were made to various service providers, who were contracted to provide food stuff, to six boarding schools in the province.

President Cyril Ramaphosa recently signed a proclamation authorising the SIU to investigate allegations of fraud, corruption and misadministration in the Mpumalanga Education Department. The investigation is about procurement irregularities, inflation of invoices and payments.

SIU spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago, says officials and service providers will be probed.

“The SIU has now started this investigation and what it will look into is to investigate and recover losses that might have been incurred by the department, to look at who was doing all these wrong things, and to forward disciplinary referrals to the department when the need arises.”

The Mpumalanga Premier, Mandla Ndlovu, has welcomed the investigation. Ndlovu says officials must co-operate with investigators.

“No, I am not concerned about the investigations that are taking place here. We have got various institutions here in South Africa that we have created to deal with corruption, to deal with misadministration, to deal with even crime. So it’s part of their work, they will investigate. We request our institutions, we request MECs, HODs, all our officials to co-operate. We will get the report at the right time, with clear recommendations and remedial actions.”

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) believes the scope of the investigation should be extended to other departments. Mpumalanga DA Member of the Legislature Anneliese Weber explains:

“We have a specific incident where during COVID, there was a school that was receiving food without children being in the school. So we really welcome this. But we also want to let people become aware, this is an investigation from about 10 years ago. But, about three years ago, the agricultural department is responsible for delivering food and veggies and fresh foods to these six boarding schools. So, yes, I feel that they also need to be investigated.”

The investigation is expected to last at least 12 months.