SIU to probe allegations of maladministration at NMBM

Reading Time: 2 minutes

President Cyril Ramaphosa has given the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) the green light to investigate allegations of maladministration in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, Eastern Cape.

The SIU will look into the alleged unlawful conduct by municipal employees, and recover financial losses connected to a dodgy contract to supply streetlights.

The proclamation signed by Ramaphosa covers allegations of unlawful conduct which took place between the 1st of November 2020 and 12 July 2024.

The Nelson Mandela Bay municipality says it will provide all assistance the investigation requires, in order to root out all alleged corruption.

“Proclamation 170 of 2024 authorises the SIU to probe procurement and contracting for goods and services by or on behalf of the municipality to supply, deliver and off-loading led street lighting and flood lighting luminaires, and payments made in respect thereof in a manner that was not fair, competitive, transparent, equitable or cost-effective.

“The SIU will also investigate any unauthorised, irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditure incurred by NMBMM or the state. the scope of the investigation also covers any unlawful or improper conduct by officials or employees of NMBMM, the applicable suppliers or service providers, or any other person or entity,” says SIU Spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago.

“The office of the mayor and the municipality will give its full support to the investigation of the SIU as we also stand against corruption in the municipality. Although they have not contacted us, yet we will abide by and support the investigation because the current department under investigation is very critical to the municipality to render services two years ago, we suspended two officials from this department,” says Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Mayoral Spokesperson Kupido Baron.