SIU to probe Mangaung metro police contracts and Gauteng health tender

By Thapelo Molefe

President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate nine contracts linked to the establishment and operationalisation of the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipal Police, as well as a Gauteng Department of Health tender for voluntary medical male circumcision services.

The investigations, announced by the SIU on Monday, stem from two presidential proclamations targeting allegations of maladministration, unlawful conduct, irregular expenditure and possible corruption.

Under Proclamation 329 of 2026, the SIU will investigate the procurement processes surrounding the establishment of the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipal Police.

The probe will cover contracts for branding and marketing items, corporate gifts, catering, decorating services, structural assessments of municipal buildings, office upgrades, the procurement of eight Toyota Corolla vehicles, a fire truck and the appointment of contractors for the municipality’s Integrated Public Transport Network.

The investigation will also examine alleged overpayments to suppliers reflected in the municipality’s annual financial statements for the year ending 30 June 2024, as well as any unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure recorded during the 2022/23 and 2023/24 financial years.

According to the SIU, investigators will review the conduct of municipal officials, employees, suppliers, service providers and any other parties involved.

The proclamation covers allegations dating from 1 October 2016 to 31 July 2026. It also allows the SIU to investigate conduct outside that period if it is connected to the matters under investigation, including instances where payments were made for services that were never delivered.

A second investigation, authorised under Proclamation 328 of 2026, focuses on the Gauteng Provincial Department of Health’s procurement of voluntary medical male circumcision services under Tender No. GT/GDH/099/2018.

The SIU said the investigation will examine the procurement process, payments made under the tender and whether the contract was awarded in a manner that was fair, competitive, transparent, equitable and cost-effective.

Investigators will also assess compliance with legislation and National Treasury and Provincial Treasury procurement requirements.

The probe will further examine the department’s policies, procedures and any unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure linked to the tender.

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