This is as he delivered his first State Of the Nation Address (Sona) on Thursday night after the 8 May 2019 sixth democratic general election. He said the decisive steps have been taken to end state capture and fight corruption, including measures to strengthen the NPA, SIU, SARS and State Security, to achieve important results.

This in light of the Zondo Commission sitting in Gauteng where issues of state capture are discussed, implicating senior officials in government and the private sector, including the former president, Jacob Zuma, who have been called to give testimony. He says they asked the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) to develop a plan to significantly increase the capacity and effectiveness of the NPA, including to ensure effective asset forfeiture. Many officials from the various national, provincial and local governments across South Africa have been implicated, including former president Jacob Zuma, North West premier, Supra Mahumapelo, and former Free State premier, Ace Magashule.

Ramaphosa has expressed confidence in these state organs to arrest those found guilty with corruption. “We need to ensure that public money stolen is returned and used to deliver services and much-needed basic infrastructure to the poorest communities. We expect that the new SIU Special Tribunal will start its work within the next few months to fast-track civil claims arising from SIU investigations, which are currently estimated to be around R14.7 billion,” he said. In April this year, the SIU confirmed to OFM News that it was in touch with the embattled Free State local municipality of Maluti-A-Phofung with intentions of speeding up their investigation process into allegations of fraud and maladministration by municipal officials.

This after the president, Cyril Ramaphosa, during his visit at the municipality on an election campaign recently announced that the municipality will be at the center of the scrutiny. In a statement, the SIU said Ramaphosa had to sign and gazette a proclamation which will outline the scope of investigations to be undertaken.

The SIU said in an event that it uncovers evidence pointing to a criminal act, the SIU is required by law to refer such criminal evidence to the NPA because the SIU does not have the powers to prosecute.

It further said in an event that it uncovers evidence pointing to a criminal act, the SIU is required by law to refer such criminal evidence of misconduct to the Municipal Manager to take disciplinary action against affected parties. Previously the cash-strapped municipality blamed what it called the tampering of electricity meter boxes and the vandalism of bulk and electricity distribution infrastructure as the main reasons why it constantly fails to honour its debt with the power utility Eskom. This follows after Eskom attached assets of the municipality as a result of its debt worth about R2.8 billion.

OFM News