Over R5bn in KZN contracts probed by SIU

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Danette Breitenbach

According to fin24, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is investigating 558 procurement contracts involving R1.9bn, KwaZulu-Natal premier Zweli Mkhize said. "The SIU is also investigating 360 cases of conflict of interest where R3.4bn was involved," Mkhize said. He added that the province's Integrity Management Unit, which provided strategic leadership for the provincial government on fraud and corruption, was behind corruption-related arrests.

Mkhize said 755 cases had been reported for prosecution and other cases were at various disciplinary stages. It had become clear that corruption had long-term negative effects on the efficiency of public investment. "As we speak," Mkhize said "the total number of public servants who are facing fraud and corruption charges in the province is 1024. All corrupt officials and syndicates tend to give priority to projects and activities that generate higher private material and political gains" while projects with high socioeconomic returns were not given priority, fin24 reports.

Mkhize said corruption included the theft of social grants by public servants between April 2010 and March 2011. The provincial education department was dealing with ghost teachers who drew salaries but were no longer employed by government. In addition, teachers with fake qualifications had also been caught, and some teachers and lecturers were accused of selling examination papers to pupils. Some were also demanding sexual favours in return for good grades. "Some schools and tertiary institutions have become breeding grounds for a generation that has a weak ethical base. We must unite and stop this slide to mediocrity," Mkhize said

Read the full article on www.fin24.com.