President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to probe five contracts awarded by the Eastern Cape Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, after allegations of serious maladministration, corruption, fraud and irregular expenditure.
Scope and legal basis of the probe
The SIU said the probe follows Proclamation 344 of 2026, signed by the President and published on 9 September 2026, which gives the unit powers to investigate procurement and contracting processes and to recover any money lost by the State or the departmental entity.
SIU spokesperson Selby Makgotho said the investigation will cover the period from 1 January 2021 to 9 September 2026, the date the proclamation was published. The unit will scrutinise whether the tenders were awarded through lawful and proper procurement processes and whether payments were justified.
“The SIU will investigate whether the procurement process, contracting and related payments were conducted in a manner that was unfair, non‑competitive, non‑transparent, inequitable or not cost‑effective; contrary to applicable legislation; or inconsistent with manuals, guidelines, practice notes, circulars or instructions issued by National Treasury or the relevant Provincial Treasury,” Makgotho said.
Which contracts are under scrutiny
Makgotho identified five contracts falling under the probe. They relate to road construction and maintenance, emergency infrastructure work, and security services for departmental offices. The SIU will also review the department's own policies, procedures and prescripts in relation to these awards.
- Upgrading of Road DR08125 from the N2 to Sipetu Hospital — a 10km stretch;
- Urgent re‑gravelling of DR18033;
- Urgent re‑gravelling of DR08288;
- Emergency preparations for a road, platform and parking area related to the funeral of former Gauteng Economic Development MEC Nkosiphendule Kolisile;
- Emergency gravelling on DR08076 to repair flood damage to gravel roads in the Elundini Local Municipal Area.
| Contract | Type of work | Location / notes |
|---|---|---|
| DR08125 | Upgrading | N2 to Sipetu Hospital — 10km |
| DR18033 | Re‑gravelling (urgent) | Not specified |
| DR08288 | Re‑gravelling (urgent) | Not specified |
| Funeral infrastructure | Road, platform and parking area (emergency) | For funeral of Nkosiphendule Kolisile |
| DR08076 | Emergency gravelling (flood repairs) | Elundini Local Municipal Area |
What the SIU will look at
The SIU said it will examine whether procurement, contracting and related payments were conducted:
- in a fair, competitive and transparent manner;
- in accordance with legislation, National Treasury and Provincial Treasury instructions and circulars;
- in line with the department’s own policies, procedures and guidelines.
That review includes whether processes were cost‑effective and equitable, and whether any directives or practice notes were contravened.
Local implications and unanswered questions
The investigation reaches into projects that affect rural mobility and emergency road access in parts of the province. Road upgrades and re‑gravelling contracts have direct consequences for farmers, learner transport and access to health facilities such as Sipetu Hospital. The probe into emergency works in Elundini is particularly sensitive given the area's vulnerability to flood damage.
The SIU notice did not disclose contract values, the names of winning bidders, or the dates on which the contracts were awarded. The unit’s mandate to recover state funds means suppliers, departmental officials and any intermediaries implicated could face civil action and possible criminal referral where evidence warrants it.
Provincial public works officials have not been quoted in the SIU statement published with the proclamation. It is standard for the SIU to engage with implicated departments during the course of its enquiries; findings are usually made public in a report at the conclusion of the investigation or when recoveries are effected.
Broader context
Since 2021 the Eastern Cape has repeatedly been under scrutiny for irregular expenditure across multiple departments. The SIU’s expanded remit under the proclamation follows a pattern in which the unit is called in to examine complex procurement matters where there are allegations of systemic weaknesses or abuse of emergency procedures.
For residents and stakeholders, the key questions now are whether the SIU will be able to move swiftly to establish accountability and whether any recovered funds will be redirected to restore damaged roads and services. The timeline for the SIU's work will depend on the complexity of the records and the co‑operation of third parties.
Further updates are expected as the SIU commences detailed examinations and, where appropriate, issues notices to affected parties.
