NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION NO.: 1123
DATE OF QUESTION: 04 APRIL 2011
1123. Mr P van Dalen (DA) to ask the Minister of Justice and
Constitutional Development:
(1) Whether the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is investigating
corruption within Eskom; if not, why not; if so,
(2) whether SIU is conducting its investigation at the request of
Eskom; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so,
(3) whether it is procedure for the SIU to conduct investigations
at the request of state entities; if not, what is the position in this
regard; if so, what are the relevant details;
(4) whether it is procedure for state entities to pay for such
investigations; if not, why not; if so, what are the reasons for this;
(5) whether the investigation uncovered any corrupt actions; if
not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant
details?
NW1246E
REPLY:-
(1) Yes, I wish to inform the Honourable Member that the
Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is investigating a number of concerns
at Eskom which include allegations of corruption, fraud and
maladministration.
(2) The SIU was approached by Eskom to assist it to deal
more effectively with allegations of corruption, fraud and
maladministration.
(3) The SIU is mandated by the President to investigate
allegations of corruption, fraud and maladministration in any context in
which public funds may have been placed in jeopardy. This includes the
public service and state entities. Although investigations are
instituted at the request of State Institutions, it is the decision of
the President whether to authorise an investigation. The SIU itself
often receives allegations directly and should they prove to be credible
after an initial investigation, it will make a request to the President
for a formal proclamation enabling it to use the full range of its
powers.
(4) The SIU receives a budget from National Treasury but
it has supplemented this by entering into innovative partnerships with
State Institutions that are willing to contribute to the cost of
investigations. Many State Institutions have been willing to do so as
they normally rely on the private sector to do forensic investigations
and the SIU can provide a similar quality of service at less than half
the cost. These partnerships currently contribute about half of the SIU
budget and have enabled the SIU to double its capacity to investigate
corruption in the state. The SIU, however, ensures that it does not
become too dependent on funding from one institution as it may impact on
its independence.
(5) As the investigation has only commenced recently,
there are no results to share at present.