ALSO READ – Breaking News: SIU to investigate former Free State Premiers

The SIU spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago, says the unit was set to investigate the allegations of maladministration and misconduct in the two financial years 2017/18 and 2019/20.

ALSO READ: Ntombela resigns as Free State premier

These financial years coincided with the reign of two former premiers, including the legally embattled Ace Magashule and ousted Sisi Ntombela.  

The national spokesperson for Cope, Dennis Bloem, said for years the party alleged that corruption and maladministration have destroyed the Free State. Bloem says the unit in its investigations must also include the R3.5 million funeral expenses claimed to be of the late former MEC of Education in the Free State Tate Makgoe.

Cope also wants the SIU to expand the investigation by looking into the influence and relationship that Magashule and Ntombela had with all municipalities in the Free State and also investigate the former MEC of Finance in the Free State.

“We cannot allow a situation where people 

who have destroyed the Free State and left a trail

 of destruction to still walk the streets 

without any consequences.”

“Whilst we welcome the investigation we expect that this investigation must dig deep into the rot that happened over many years in the Free State. We call upon the Director of Public Prosecution, Shamila Batohi, to take corruption cases seriously. The Free State is destroyed by rampant corruption that took place over many years. People want to see those who have caused this damage to go to jail. We cannot allow a situation where people who have destroyed the Free State and left a trail of destruction to still walk the streets without any consequences.”

“Cope will not get tired of fighting corruption. 

We will not rest until we see those who have made 

themselves guilty of destroying and collapsing the 

economy of the country go to jail.”

Bloem slammed corruption and said thousands of people of the Free State are suffering whilst many people are going to bed on empty stomachs because of poverty and unemployment having reached crisis proportions.

“Cope will not get tired of fighting corruption. We will not rest until we see those who have made themselves guilty of destroying and collapsing the economy of the country go to jail,” Bloem added.

Kganyago previously said President Cyril Ramaphosa requested it to investigate allegations of serious maladministration in the affairs of the Office of the Premier in the Free State, as identified by the Auditor-General, Tsakani Maluleke.

ALSO READ: #Magashule vows to run for ANC position

He says this follows a report by Maluleke, titled “Report of the Auditor-General to the Free State Legislature on Vote no. 1: Department of the Premier,” dated 31 July 2019 and 27 October 2020.

Kganyago said the unit's investigating team will also focus on the Office of the Premier’s annual report for the 2017/18 financial year concerning the approval, allocation, or payment of bursaries, including travel and accommodation.

The investigation will scrutinise stipends to persons who were not entitled or were given in a manner that contradicts the applicable manuals, policies, procedures, prescripts, instructions, or practices of the Office of the Premier.

OFM News