Question NW2506 to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
17 July 2023 - NW2506
Mkhonto, Ms C N to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
Whether the 2023-24 budget allocated to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) accommodates possible increase in compensation of employees, in view of the unprecedented high volume of work emanating from all three spheres of government that is given to the SIU; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details. (2) What is the (a) total number of vacancies at the SIU and (b) time frame with specific dates on which the vacant positions will be filled. (3) (a) What total amount does his department owe the SIU and (b) how old is the debt. (4) Whether any interventions and/or measures have been put in place to ensure that government institutions and entities pay the SIU on time; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. The SIU has been proactive in ensuring that the needs from the various spheres of government are met. This is evident in the recent Resourcing Strategy Indaba held, to ensure that the influx of Proclamations currently experienced can be accommodated.
2. a) 199.
b) By 31 March 2024.
3. a) R11,744,481
b) R 5,487,191 is still within 30 days. R 6,257,289 is above 30 days and it is currently under investigation.
4. The SIU, in its normal day to day operations, sends out Statements of accounts on monthly basis to different State Institutions, indicating the amount owing at a particular period. Attached to the Statement of Accounts would normally be a Progress Report, indicating progress on the investigations and allowing the State Institutions a preview of what activities took place during the period being reported on.
On a regular basis, Managers on the investigations are requested to follow up with the various State Institutions on outstanding payments and once a year, the Finance Department sends out letters to the State institutions requesting them to settle the outstanding debts.
During the 2022/23 financial year, the SIU embarked on a more intense project dubbed “Project Khokhela” to deal with the outstanding debt. During the year, various face to face engagements were held with some institutions and this process yielded positive results and payments were received from these institutions.