The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) will on Wednesday be hearing its review application at the Special Tribunal in relation to the irregular awarding of a tender for school decontamination.

The tender cost the Gauteng Education Department R431-million.

Between June and August 2020, the provincial Education Department allegedly spent millions of rands on sanitising schools.

In May, the Special Tribunal granted the SIU an order to freeze the bank accounts and assets worth R40.7-million of 14 entities that were implicated in having received the tenders illegally.

Senior managers charged 

In September, the Gauteng Department of Education and Youth Development served three senior managers with charges after an SIU investigation on the use of funds for the decontamination of schools in Gauteng.

While the investigation into the mismanagement of funds is still ongoing, the department says they will not rule out the possibility of charging others.

“It has been recommended that the Head of Supply Chain, Chief Director for Infrastructure Development, and Acting Director for Auxiliary Services be charged in accordance to the findings in the investigation report. It is important to note that the GDE intends for this process to be facilitated by an independent body outside the department and, thus, has approached the Office of the State Attorney to assist. Even though we do not want to pre-judge the outcome of the disciplinary hearing, it is paramount to reiterate our position in this matter, that the officials who caused this expenditure, need to be taken to task,” Gauteng Education Department Spokesperson Steve Mabona explains.

Steve Mabona on over R400-million being spent on Gauteng schools decontamination: 

-Additional reporting by Prabashini Moodley