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The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) has referred four cases of financial misconduct from Sita (the State Information Technology Agency), the Department of Basic Education, and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) to determine whether or not there is indeed criminality in these cases.

Arising from Scopa’s resolution earlier this year to work closely with law enforcement agencies and with the subsequent meeting with the Anti-Corruption Task Team, the Committee had requested the head of the Hawks, Lieutenant-General Berning Ntlemeza, to be present during Scopa’s hearings on annual reports and financial statements with government departments and entities.

The four cases Scopa has referred to the Hawks include two cases that were presented by Sita to the Committee. Sita had also decided that it wants to refer the cases to law enforcement agencies and there was agreement with the Committee that the cases will be referred to the Hawks.

Scopa has also referred a case from the Department of Basic Education where there was fruitless and wasteful expenditure of R44m from a programme called Kha ri Gude (Tshivenda for “let us learn”). The Department of Basic Education also indicated to the Committee that it would be happy if the Hawks could assist with the investigation.

The fourth case that the Committee has referred to the Hawks is from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation wherein there is a letter of allegations against the Chief Financial Officer allegedly by staff from the finance section. Scopa has asked the Hawks – in terms of the powers that the Committee has – to refer for investigation matters that fall within our responsibility, to ask the Hawks to investigate and determine whether or not there is indeed criminality in these cases.

After the Hawks have investigated these cases they will report back to Scopa as to whether or not they will refer their investigations to the National Prosecuting Authority.

Issued by Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of Mr Themba Godi, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts