President Cyril Ramaphosa has expanded the Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) investigation into alleged corruption and maladministration at the Umzumbe Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, giving investigators broader powers to examine possible wrongdoing.
The Presidency announced that Ramaphosa has signed Proclamation Notice 327 of 2026, which amends Proclamation 183 of 2024. The original proclamation authorised the SIU to investigate allegations of corruption and maladministration at the municipality, while the latest amendment widens the scope of that investigation.
The tenders under scrutiny include: the construction of the Umzumbe Municipal Offices; the rehabilitation of the Qwabe, Cabhane, Mabheleni, Magabha, Sgananda and Ndletshe Roads; the construction of the Isipofu Access Road; construction work at the Ntelezi Msani Heritage Centre; the construction of Nkanini Indoor Sports Centre; the construction of the Ntatshana Access Road and Bridge; and the Three-Year Electrification Turnkey Project (2015 to 2018), by or on behalf of the Municipality.
The probe will also examine whether the payments for these contracts adhered to national treasury guidelines and ascertain whether the payments were irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditures or financial losses for the Municipality or the state.
The Proclamation covers allegations of unlawful and improper conduct that occurred between 1 April 2017 and 13 September 2024, as well as any related activities before 1 April 2017 and after the date of the Proclamation that is pertinent to the matters under investigation or involves the same persons, entities, or contracts.
Beyond investigating maladministration, corruption, and fraud, the SIU will identify systemic failures and recommend measures to prevent future losses.
The SIU said the amendment allows investigators to probe additional allegations linked to the municipality’s affairs and strengthen efforts to recover any public funds that may have been lost through unlawful conduct.
According to the SIU, the expanded investigation will focus on whether municipal officials, service providers or other individuals acted unlawfully in the awarding and management of contracts, as well as whether there was any financial misconduct, corruption or improper use of public resources.
“The amendment to the proclamation broadens the scope of the SIU investigation into allegations of serious maladministration, corruption and unlawful conduct at the Umzumbe Local Municipality,” the SIU said.
The unit added that its investigations are aimed not only at exposing corruption but also at recovering financial losses suffered by the state.
“The SIU is empowered to institute civil proceedings in the High Court or a Special Tribunal to correct any wrongdoing uncovered during its investigations, including recovering financial losses suffered by the State,” the SIU said.
The SIU stressed that where evidence of criminal conduct is uncovered, it will refer the matter to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for possible prosecution.
While the original investigation already covered allegations involving procurement and municipal administration, the amended proclamation enables investigators to examine additional matters that may have emerged since the probe began.
The Umzumbe Local Municipality, located on KwaZulu-Natal’s south coast, has faced ongoing concerns over governance, service delivery and financial management in recent years. The SIU’s investigation forms part of a broader government effort to tackle corruption in municipalities and ensure accountability for the use of public funds.
The SIU is an independent statutory body that investigates serious maladministration, corruption and malpractice in state institutions. Its findings can lead to disciplinary action, civil litigation to recover state money, and criminal referrals where evidence supports prosecution.
