President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially authorised the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to probe allegations of corruption and maladministration at the Eastern Cape Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.

By signing Proclamation 344 of 2026, the President has cleared the way for the Unit to investigate a series of highly sensitive infrastructure contracts and security tenders.

The investigation will cover the period from January 01, 2021 up to the publication of the proclamation on September 09, 2026.

Investigators will examine the procurement, contracting and payment processes for Phase 1 of the ten kilometre road construction connecting the N2 to Sipetu Hospital; the urgent re-gravelling of roads DR18033 and DR08288; the emergency gravelling operations on road DR08076 within the Elundini local municipality; the emergency preparation of the road, platform and parking facilities for the funeral of former Gauteng Economic Development MEC Nkosiphendule Kolisile; and the multimillion-rand appointment of service providers to secure head office clusters over a 36-month period.

The core focus of the SIU probe is to determine whether these multimillion-rand contracts violated constitutional procurement principles.

Investigators will check if the processes were “unfair, non-competitive, non-transparent, or not cost-effective”, and if the contracts went against National and Provincial Treasury guidelines, as well as the department's internal policies.

Furthermore, the SIU will investigate whether department officials, private contractors, or third-party entities manipulated the system to corruptly or unduly benefit themselves.

Operating under the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act of 1996 (Act No. 74 of 1996), the SIU has substantial teeth to enforce accountability.

Beyond identifying fraud and irregular expenditure, the unit is empowered to initiate civil proceedings in its own name.

Any wrongdoing uncovered during the probe can immediately be taken before the Special Tribunal or the High Court. This allows the SIU to freeze assets, nullify unlawful contracts, and swiftly recover stolen or mismanaged State funds.