SIU conducts search and seizure in Makana Local Municipality after an order to investigate alleged tender maladministration

By Nkhensani Chauke

The Special Investigating Unit, assisted by the Hawks, raided offices of the Makana Local Municipality to investigate alleged tender maladministration and irregularities, confiscating the phones of officials, laptops, hard drives and specific tender-related documents.

This comes a day after the Grahamstown Magistrate Court granted the SIU a warrant to search the premises of the municipality and gather evidence that would aid in the ongoing investigations.

SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago told the media on Friday that upon the receipt of the allegations, the SIU engaged the municipality seeking information that would help assess the merit of the allegations and help prepare a motivation for a proclamation.

“However, the municipality did not cooperate with the SIU’s request. The SIU engaged the Auditor General of South Africa’s (AGSA), as the office was auditing the municipality at the time. The AGSA indicated that the municipality failed to furnish it with documents,”