The criminal justice system will have to work collaboratively if efforts to curb corruption in government, State-owned entities and in the corporate sector are to pay off, says Special Investigating Unit head, Advocate Andy Mothibi.
Mothibi made the statement on Monday following the South Gauteng High Court setting aside an irregular R52 million contract between the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and Vision View Production CC. It is understood that the contract related to the procurement of a hi-tech equipment for a sports studio in 2010.
The setting aside of the contract follows the setting aside of another irregular contract between SABC and Lornavision (PTY) worth R62.7 million. The contract related to debt collection services by Lornavision.
“A claim for damages suffered as a consequence of this irregular contract against the propagators of it, namely Lornavision (PTY) Ltd and Mr James Aguma, the SABC's former Acting CEO,, is currently underway,” Mothibi said.
Arms of the criminal system, he said, have to work together professionally and with speed.
“The proceeds of corruption in the hands of corrupt people, whether in the employ of government, State-owned entities and again – by extension – business dissipates swiftly through various scrupulous money washing schemes,” said Mothibi.
In the statement, Mothibi attributes the SIU's success in setting aside of a series of contracts irregularly entered into by different government departments and State-owned entities to the implementation of the SIU strategy, without compromising the quality of any investigations and the prompt turnaround action time.
“In all these matters we litigate on, where we discover that some criminal act has been committed, we refer these cases to the NPA for possible prosecution where possible. Corruption on its own is a criminal activity. Society demands a South Africa free from corruption and by implication those found wanting should be locked up in the Department of Correctional Services centres,” he said.
Mothibi implored all SIU officials to work diligently without fear or favour in rooting out corruption whenever and wherever it rears its ugly head. – SAnews.gov.za
