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The Democratic Alliance in the Northern Cape views the authorisation of six separate investigations by the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) in just two years as confirmation that residents need to be rescued from the consequences of serious corruption in provincial and local government.

Six SIU investigations from February 2024 to August 2026 demonstrates the need for a high-performance institutional culture which prioritises the employment of ethical professionals above the deployment of politically connected cadres who simply loot the public purse. The timing of the proclamations, coinciding with unprecedented friction in the provincial executive, emphasises the need for stable and incorruptible government to take the Northern Cape forward. As it stands, the members of the Executive seem too distracted by claims of misconduct and counterclaims of tyranny to focus on clean governance and adequate service delivery.

We appreciate the fact that the SIU will now probe questionable construction of school and road infrastructure in the John Taolo Gaetsewe district. Both individual projects have been subject to scrutiny by the relevant committees of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature. It is time for corrupt officials, including office bearers, to be exposed and held accountable.

Processes surrounding the rehabilitation of the MR938 connecting Kathu with Hotazel were already deemed irregular by the Northern Cape High Court, and the Northern Cape Department of Roads & Public Works was ordered in 2020 to start fresh tender processes. It’s taken nine years to rehabilitate less than 80 kilometres, overpayments to the initial contractor exceeds R10 million, and the province suffered more than R7 million in further financial losses.

Likewise, questionable planning and coordination of the construction of a high school in Wrenchville caused losses of more than R3 million.

We simply cannot afford to lose precious public funds in pursuit of questionable projects that provide no benefit to the public. With the right political will, much more can and should be done to get the Northern Cape working for the benefit of all its residents.

Issued by DA Northern Cape Provincial leader Isak Fritz