A new probe into the procurement division of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and its dealings with the State IT Agency (SITA) is linked to a controversial risk assessment report that was conducted on SITA's procurement practices.
The report, compiled by risk management firm Henderson Solutions, was handed to public service and administration minister Richard Baloyi in April last year and sparked a Hawks investigation in October.
President Jacob Zuma has directed the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate supply chain-related concerns in a number of government departments, as part of a widespread anti-corruption probe, according to the Presidency.
“The affected departments are the Department of Health in the Gauteng province, Human Settlements, Department of Arts and Culture, Department of Education in the Eastern Cape province, the national Department of Public Works, the South African Social Security Agency and the South African Police Service.”
The Presidency says the proclamations are a clear indication of the President and Cabinet's stated resolve to combat corruption, mismanagement and maladministration at all levels of government and the public service.
Linked again
Director of communications at the Presidency Bongani Majola says the current SAPS investigation is linked to a preliminary investigation into the SITA report by the Hawks, which dates back to last year.
He says the referral was not made by the ICD and adds that opposition parties have been demanding the anti-corruption investigations, and this may be the reason for the probes.
An extract from the SAPS Proclamation in the Government Gazette of 10 August, No 33451, says the SIU is mandated to look at the procurement of goods or services, including leased accommodation, by the SAPS, that was done irregularly.
The extract also says this includes procurement conducted on behalf of the SAPS by the Department of Public Works or SITA and payments made in relation to it.
“The SIU has started detailed investigations into these matters, and is treating them as ones of extremely high priority. Each investigation will be staffed by a substantial team of forensic investigators, lawyers, accountants and analysts,” says the Presidency.
First dance
The Henderson Solutions risk assessment report pointed to irregularities within the senior ranks of the police and pointed to the involvement of senior officers in alleged shady dealings.
In terms of the agency itself, the report speaks of corruption, conflict of interest and duplicate payments and invalid identities of suppliers and employees, as reflected by data contained in various SITA databases.
Among the large-scale irregularities, pertaining to SITA's procurement processes, the report exposes a complex chain of IT-related companies allegedly set up and run by senior SAPS officers.
The report names a former director within the SAPS as being “involved in less than arms' length transactions with companies in which he has vested financial interest”.
According to the Companies and Intellectual Property Registration Office, the SAPS member is listed as the principal of at least two companies on the SITA supplier list. Several other companies found on the list are linked to these two entities.
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