By Thapelo Molefe
Six projects linked to the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) and the Buffalo City Metropolitan Development Agency (BCMDA) are set to come under investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) following a proclamation signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The investigation will examine allegations of serious maladministration, improper or unlawful conduct, and the unlawful appropriation or expenditure of public money involving projects dating back to 2016.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the Eastern Cape has welcomed the investigation on Tuesday, saying the projects have for years raised questions over their costs, delays, procurement processes and failure to deliver infrastructure to Buffalo City residents.
“The SIU investigation therefore presents an important opportunity for these longstanding concerns to be formally examined and for the truth to be established,” the EFF said.
The projects under investigation include the Mdantsane NU2 Swimming Pool Project, the appointment of First New Generation Trading (Pty) Ltd for the demolition of existing walls, and the appointment of Lefito Trading, trading as Kuyasa Electrical Contractors, for the removal of the Donkin wall and palisade installation.
The SIU will also investigate consulting engineer services for the Water World Project and the appointment of the main contractor for the project.
The investigation will examine whether payments linked to the projects were fair, competitive, transparent, equitable and cost-effective, and whether they complied with applicable legislation.
It will also investigate any unlawful, irregular or unapproved transactions involving state property, as well as any intentional or negligent loss of public money or damage to public property.
The EFF has called on the SIU to conduct the investigation “without fear or favour” and follow the evidence wherever it leads.
“Where wrongdoing, financial losses or unlawful conduct are established, those responsible must be held accountable and any public funds found to have been unlawfully or irregularly lost must be recovered,” the party said.
The party also criticised the ANC’s administration of Buffalo City and called on residents to vote the party out in the 2026 Local Government Elections.
“The people of Buffalo City cannot afford another five years of the same failed leadership and the same disregard for public resources,” the EFF said.
The party said one of its priorities if it takes control of Buffalo City would be to reduce reliance on outsourcing and strengthen municipal capacity.
“One of the EFF’s key priorities when we take over Buffalo City will be to progressively dismantle the tender-driven model that has turned municipalities into centres for the outsourcing of public resources,” it said.
BCMM has also welcomed the proclamation, saying the municipality had already launched its own investigations into the projects.
The municipality said some officials had been charged, while others had been placed on precautionary suspension.
“The municipality therefore long chose a path of proactive accountability,” BCMM said.
It described the matters covered by the SIU investigation as “legacy issues” inherited from before the current council’s term.
BCMM said it would continue with its internal investigations and disciplinary processes while cooperating with the SIU.
“We share the sentiment that financial losses were suffered by the municipality, and we are fiercely determined to see that justice is served, that public funds are accounted for and even recovered,” the municipality said.
Chairperson of Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA), Songezo Zibi, said the committee had worked with the SIU to develop the case for the proclamation after conducting oversight in Buffalo City.
“These are the same matters that we looked into when we were conducting oversight,” Zibi said.
He said Parliament had provided information gathered through its oversight process to assist the SIU in developing the case for the proclamation.
“So they’re effectively now the forensic investigating arm of the committee,” Zibi said.
Zibi said there could be further SIU proclamations involving Buffalo City.
“There might be a few others covering other things down the line,” he said.
He added that Parliament was following up with the National Prosecuting Authority and the Hawks on referrals for possible criminal prosecution involving corruption cases in the Eastern Cape.
“Each and every one of the matters that we have dealt with with BCM, we are going to follow them until they are resolved,” Zibi said.
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