Media Statement

Fact sheet on the occasion of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development Budget Vote

30 May 2023

There are 7 irrefutable facts in the fight against corruption:

1. The Investigating Directorate (ID), which the President established explicitly to investigate corruption-related crimes, has, during the 2022/23 financial year, enrolled 18 matters, totalling 34 matters since its inception, involving 203 accused individuals and 65 accused entities. The ID also made significant progress in investigating and enrolling state capture matters, with 50% of the cases relating to state capture.
2. Asset forfeiture Unit obtained recoveries which amount to R2.83 billion in corruption and related matters. Over the past five years, the NPA's Asset Forfeiture Unit has obtained 1630 freezing orders valued at R12.4 billion. In the last financial year, the Asset Forfeiture Unit obtained freezing orders valued at R570 million in corruption or related offences.
3. Ongoing criminal investigations into complex corruption at Eskom are yielding results; the ID has finalised a comprehensive settlement agreement with multinational company ABB to pay over R2.5 billion in punitive reparations to South Africa. The NPA's Specialised Commercial Crimes Unit (SCCU) has secured hefty sentences in corruption cases involving the state and state- owned enterprises, with an 87% conviction rate for government officials.
4. This month alone, the Nelspruit Commercial Crimes Court sentenced a former Eskom Administrative Clerk to 10 years of direct imprisonment for defrauding Eskom for over R2.6 million.
5. In August last year, the special commercial crimes unit secured a 20-year jail term for a bookkeeper who stole over R11m from the Covid-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS).
6. The SIU has seen a more than 240% increase in signed proclamations, authorising it to investigate allegations of corruption and maladministration in government departments, municipalities, and State-Owned Entities. Signed proclamations include the ones authorising investigations in the affairs of the Road Accident Fund, National Lotteries Commission, University of Fort Hare, and National Student Financial Aid Scheme.
7. By March 2023, the SIU had instituted a civil action in the High Courts and the Special Tribunal with a combined value of approximately R 86.6 billion. The value of matters instituted in the Special Tribunal includes R2.8 billion worth of personal protective equipment contracts.

Ends

Issued By the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services Enquiries

Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services Spokesperson:
Mr Chrispin Phiri
Cell: +27 (0) 81 781 2261