SIU to Probe Free State Education Projects and Great Kokstad Municipality

Posted 13 July 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Public Sector

Brought to you by SAnews: President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed Proclamation 325 of 2026, authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to probe allegations of maladministration and unlawful conduct within the Free State Department of Education, whilst also amending Proclamation 244 of 2025 to expand an ongoing investigation into the Great Kokstad Local Municipality.

In terms of the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act, No. 74 of 1996, the SIU is empowered to investigate matters referred to it by the President and to institute civil proceedings in the Special Tribunal or the High Court to recover financial losses suffered by the State.

Proclamation 325 of 2026 directs the SIU to review procurement and contracting processes for construction services performed by or on behalf of the Free State Department of Education from 1 March 2014 until the date of the proclamation. The investigation will focus on unauthorised, irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditure, specifically concerning projects at the following schools:

  • Caleb Motshabi (formerly Thuto Ke Thebe) Primary School;
  • Malebogo Primary School; and
  • Tlholo Primary School.

The SIU will determine whether these procurement processes complied with applicable legislation, National and Provincial Treasury regulations, and the department’s internal procurement policies.

Amendment to Great Kokstad Local Municipality Probe

The President has also signed an amendment to Proclamation 244 of 2025 (originally published on 31 January 2025), which authorises the SIU to investigate procurement and contracting irregularities within the Great Kokstad Local Municipality. The amendment extends the investigation period backward to commence on 5 June 2020 (previously 1 January 2022) and expands the scope to include the following tenders:

  • Bid GKM 19-22/23: Appointment of a service provider to supply and renew software licences for a period of three years;
  • Bid GKM 16-22/23: Appointment of a service provider to supply a customer care and IT service desk solution for a period of three years;
  • Bid GKM 43-19/20: Supply and delivery of laptops and desktop computers; and
  • Bid GKM 14-20/21: Supply and renewal of software licences.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: No direct individual compliance obligations; professional awareness of the expanded investigative scope of the SIU under Act No. 74 of 1996 is advised.
  • For your business: Professional services firms, contractors, and IT service providers who bid on or secured contracts with the Free State Department of Education (since 2014) or Great Kokstad Local Municipality (since 2020) must review their tender submissions, contract records, and delivery documentation to ensure full compliance with public procurement regulations in anticipation of potential SIU audits or subpoenas.
  • For your clients: Clients operating as public sector suppliers or contractors in these regions should be advised to conduct urgent internal compliance reviews of their historical municipal and departmental contracts to identify and mitigate any potential exposure to irregular expenditure findings or civil recovery proceedings in the Special Tribunal.

Originally published at https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/siu-probe-free-state-education-school-projects

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