Special Investigating Units And Special Tribunals Act, 1996 (Act No. 74 of 1996)ProclamationsReferral of Matters to Existing Special Investigating UnitsDepartment of Public Works & Infrastructure and Human Settlements situated in the Free State Province and the Free State Provincial LegislatureProclamation No. 155 of 2024 |
Proclamation No. 155
23 February 2024
GG 50163
PROCLAMATION NO. 155 of 2024
by the
PRESIDENT of the REPUBLIC of SOUTH AFRICA
WHEREAS allegations as contemplated in section 2(2) of the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act, 1996 (Act No. 74 of 1996) (hereinafter referred to as "the Act"), have been made in respect of the affairs of the Department of Public Works & Infrastructure and Human Settlements situated in the Free State Province (hereinafter referred to as "the Department") and the Free State Provincial Legislature (hereinafter referred to as "the Provincial Legislature") ;
AND WHEREAS the Department and the Provincial Legislature or the State may have suffered losses that may be recovered;
AND WHEREAS I deem it necessary that the said allegations should be investigated and civil proceedings emanating from such investigation should be adjudicated upon;
NOW, THEREFORE, I hereby, under section 2(1) of the Act, refer the matters mentioned in the Schedule, in respect of the Department and the Provincial Legislature, for investigation to the Special Investigating Unit established by Proclamation No. R. 118 of 31 July 2001 and determine that, for the purposes of the investigation of the matters, the terms of reference of the Special Investigating Unit are to investigate as contemplated in the Act, any alleged—
| (a) | serious maladministration in connection with the affairs of the Department and the Provincial Legislature; |
| (b) | improper or unlawful conduct by employees of the Department and the Provincial Legislature; |
| (c) | unlawful appropriation or expenditure of public money or property; |
| (d) | unlawful, irregular or unapproved acquisitive act, transaction, measure or practice having a bearing upon State property; |
| (e) | intentional or negligent loss of public money or damage to public property; |
| (f) | offence referred to in Parts 1 to 4, or section 17, 20 or 21 (in so far as it relates to the aforementioned offences) of Chapter 2 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, 2004 (Act No. 12 of 2004), and which offences were committed in connection with the affairs of the Department and the Provincial Legislature; or |
| (g) | unlawful or improper conduct by any person, which has caused or may cause serious harm to the interests of the public or any category thereof, |
which took place between 1 March 2010 and the date of publication of this Proclamation or which took place prior to 1 March 2010 or after the date of publication of this Proclamation, but is relevant to, connected with, incidental or ancillary to the matters mentioned in the Schedule or involve the same persons, entities or contracts investigated under authority of this Proclamation, and to exercise or perform all the functions and powers assigned to or conferred upon the said Special Investigating Unit by the Act, including the recovery of any losses suffered by the Department and the Provincial Legislature or the State, in relation to the said matters in the Schedule.
Given under my Hand and the Seal of the Republic of South Africa at Johannesburg this 11th day of December Two thousand and twenty three.
MC Ramaphosa
President
By Order of the President-in-Cabinet:
RO Lamola
Minister of the Cabinet
SCHEDULE
| 1. | The procurement of, or contracting for goods, works and services in relation to the Ramkraal Project by or on behalf of the Department and the Provincial Legislature, and payments made in respect thereof in a manner that was— |
| (a) | not fair, equitable, transparent, competitive or cost-effective; or |
| (b) | contrary to applicable— |
| (i) | legislation; |
| (ii) | manuals, guidelines, circulars, practice notes or instructions issued by the National Treasury or the relevant provincial treasury; or |
| (iii) | manuals, policies, procedures, prescripts, instructions or practices of or applicable to the Department and the Provincial Legislature, |
and any related unauthorised, irregular or fruitless and wasteful expenditure incurred by the Department and the Provincial Legislature.
| 2. | Any irregular, unlawful or improper conduct by— |
| (a) | officials or employees of the Department and the Provincial Legislature; |
| (b) | applicable service providers of the Department and the Provincial Legislature; or |
| (c) | any other person or entity, |
in relation to the allegations as set out in paragraphs 1 or 2 of this Schedule.