President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed a new proclamation and a key amendment empowering the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to probe deep-seated allegations of serious maladministration, corruption, and irregular expenditure at the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and the North West Transport Investments (NTI), with a direct mandate to recover financial losses suffered by the State.

Ramaphosa amended an existing proclamation to expand the ongoing investigation into the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality.

The initial 2024 proclamation authorised the SIU to investigate the municipality's procurement of security and VIP protection services.

The new amendment extends the investigation period and brings contracts CMS 0031, 1C15104, 1C18709, 1C20359, 1X31747 and 1C29300 under forensic scrutiny.

The SIU will evaluate whether these contracts, and any subsequent extensions or variations followed a fair, competitive, transparent, equitable, and cost-effective framework, or if they resulted in irregular expenditure.

If the investigation uncovers evidence of criminal conduct, the SIU will hand the files over to the National Prosecuting Authority for prosecution.

Additionally, the SIU is fully authorised to initiate civil action in the High Court or the Special Tribunal to recover stolen public funds and assets.

In the North West, the SIU will investigate the affairs of the NTI, alongside its wholly-owned subsidiary North West Star, and the Atteridgeville Bus Service.

According to SIU spokesperson Selby Makgotho the investigation will target procurement, contracting, and payment processes related to contracts handled by Zentrafor Fuel Limited, trading as FuelU, services rendered under a vehicle rental agreement dated July 28, 2023 and operations outlined in a Sub-Contractor Agreement dated July 7, 2023.

The SIU's scope extends to systemic operational flaws. Investigators will scrutinise the receipt, processing, approval, and payment of claims submitted by Transnat Coachlines, Ziggy Investments, and their subsequent Joint Venture. The unit will check if these transactions breached National or Provincial Treasury guidelines.

Crucially, the probe will also dissect the actions of the Business Rescue Practitioner appointed on 21 July 2022, alongside their agents and NTI employees. The SIU aims to determine whether corrupt individuals or entities received undue benefits, resulting in severe losses to the NTI or the State.