Parliament, Tuesday, 24 February 2026 – The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) has welcomed the briefing it received from the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) on the investigations conducted into the matters at the OR Tambo District Municipality and the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality.
During the engagement on the briefing, the committee was informed about the SIU’s work on investigations and the cooperation received from municipalities and other stakeholders, such as the Auditor-General. The committee was briefed about the role of the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, which is in the Presidency, in the investigations.
In the matter of Proclamation R.23 of 2020 (Covid 19-PPE) at the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, the committee heard that six criminal referrals have been handed over to the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation and the National Prosecuting Authority; four case numbers have been registered; and 10 disciplinary referrals were handed to the municipality for actioning. The whole process was interdicted by two of the implicated officials, however, and is therefore on hold.
The committee also heard that three investigations are under development at Buffalo City, namely the Mdantsane NU2 Swimming Pool, where the SIU is waiting for the forensic report conducted by Ernst and Young; the Water World Fun Park Project, where the SIU is awaiting the material irregularity referral from the Auditor-General to motivate for a proclamation; and the water trucks corruption tenders affecting Kayser beach, where the SIU is awaiting relevant documentation.
The SIU also gave an update on OR Tambo District Municipality’s Proclamation R.80 of 2022, where the final Presidential report was submitted to the Presidency on 26 March 2025, and Proclamation R.172 of 2024.
The committee heard that there is a lack of cooperation and support from municipal officials and the municipal manager is unavailable to discuss the findings and has been unresponsive to the SIU’s requests to meet. The implicated officials have also been reluctant to cooperate, fearing self-incrimination.
The committee has invited the two municipalities, Buffalo City Metro and the OR Tambo District Municipality, to appear before it for an update following the committee’s oversight visit in March 2025.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ACCOUNTS, MR SONGEZO ZIBI.
For media enquiries, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Mava Lukani (Mr)
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E-mail: mlukani@parliament.gov.za
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