Riyaz Patel
The Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) Special Tribunal says it has received its first batch of cases and will soon commence with proceedings in an effort to recover billions looted from the State.
Tribunal spokesperson, Selby Makgotho, said Monday the SIU had handed over the cases to the unit after conducting and completing the investigations for civil proceedings.
“The cases mainly relate to malpractices and irregular/fraudulent awarding of contracts, as well as to seek suspension and interlocutory orders as well as interdicts.”
The value of cases ready for adjudication and recovery stands at R14.7-billion.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the tribunal in February, after a pronouncement to that effect in his State of the Nation Address.
In September, Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola gazetted the regulations for the SIU’s Special Tribunal.
Makgotho said the tribunal also had a mandate to recover public funds siphoned from the fiscus through fraud and illicit money flows.
He said the president of the Tribunal, Judge Gidfonia Mlindelwa Makhanya, “expressed the need to move with the required speed on the work, especially because it has only three years in which to operate and finalise its work.”
Makhanya will chair the tribunal assisted by seven other judges.
They are judges Icantharuby Pillay, Johannes Eksteen, Selewe Peter Mothle, Lebogang Modiba, Thina Siwendu, David van Zyl and Sirajudien Desai.
“There is an undeniable evidence indeed that the majority of the people in this country are sick and tired of, and demand justice to prevail,” Makhanya said.
