According to a report by the Special Investigative Unit (SIU), the province is among those with high Covid-19-related expenditure. The SIU says an investigation is underway relating to how a total of R14.8 billion in Covid-19 funds were spent by the different provinces. 

In the report, the Head of the SIU, Andy Mothibi, says the number of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) contracts awarded for Covid-19-related services under investigation by the SIU is 4 302, with 30% of them finalised. Over 2 400 service providers countrywide were awarded these contracts. It is confirmed investigations pertaining to 46 service providers in the Free State, involving R243 million, have been finalised while seven contracts to the tune of R1.3 million are still under investigation.

Mothibi confirms several investigations in the province, including the Provincial Treasury where the MEC and senior officials have been implicated, have been referred to the Special Tribunal Court. He confirms they have also made referrals for disciplinary action against several officials in the Free State Human Settlements Department.

The report further indicates that about 138 contracts amounting to R107 million are also under investigation in the Northern Cape and 112 contracts involving R57 million in the North West.

Meanwhile, Mothibi says “the SIU is ensuring that the Accounting Officers and Accounting Authorities of state institutions, where irregularities have been found, are being held accountable and that accountability is enforced in terms of the Public Finance Management Act, the Municipal Finance Management Act, and other applicable rules and regulations”.

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