Pretoria:The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has made significant strides in the fight against corruption, recovering cash and assets and preventing potential financial losses, totaling approximately R28.536 billion during the 2025/26 financial year.
According to South African Government News Agency, the SIU's efforts included preventing potential losses of R1.9 billion for the state and recovering R936 million in cash and/or assets. Legal proceedings led to the setting aside of contracts valued at more than R25.7 billion, safeguarding public funds from unlawful spending.
Investigations, which are central to the SIU's work, saw the closure of 5917 cases under published proclamations during the year, with 48 reports submitted to the Presidency detailing their outcomes. Some investigations covered entities such as the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport, Tembisa Hospital, and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, among others.
The SIU referred civil wrongdoing cases valued at R10.7 billion for legal proceedings, with the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) investigation contributing R6.9 billion to this total. The unit also made 761 criminal referrals to the National Prosecuting Authority and referred 460 officials for disciplinary action.
SIU Head Leonard Lekgetho emphasized the need for a collective approach to combat corruption, involving various sectors of society. Lifestyle audits were also conducted at various departments to ensure accountability. The SIU remains committed to protecting state resources and ensuring public funds are used for their intended purposes.