The SIU has been given permission by President Cyril Ramaphosa to look into claims of grave mismanagement and corruption at the Department of Water and Sanitation.
The proclamation that guarantees the State or the department will recoup any monetary damages was signed by Ramaphosa.
In 2015, former president Jacob Zuma instituted the war on leaks initiative.
The project’s objectives were to decrease water loss due to leaks and address unemployment by providing 15,000 young people with job training.
Nomvula Mokonyane, the minister of water and sanitation at the time, signed the project in 2015.
“Any illegal or improper behavior by department officials or employees, the relevant suppliers or service providers, or any other person or entity which has caused or may cause serious harm to the interests of the public is also covered by the investigation’s scope,” SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago stated.
“In addition, the investigation will determine whether any illegal public funds were appropriated or spent.”
The “Drop the Block” Project and the agreement signed in April 2016 between the department and Sedibeng Water are two more projects that the SIU has been assigned to look into.
The “Almost Empty Outdoor” campaign and the purportedly irregular selection of Sedibeng Water as the implementing agent for the provision of generic services in 2016 will also be scrutinized.
“The National Prosecuting Authority will receive any evidence of criminal conduct that the SIU finds during its investigations and will take appropriate action,” Kganyago forewarned.
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