The R28.5 billion figure exposing the scale of corruption fight
PRETORIA — South Africa’s Special Investigating Unit says it protected R28.5 billion in public money during the past financial year through recovered assets, prevented losses and court action that overturned unlawful contracts, while referring 761 matters for possible criminal prosecution.
The R28.536 billion recorded for the 2025/26 financial year includes more than R25.7 billion in contracts set aside through proceedings before the Special Tribunal and High Court.
Another R1.9 billion represents potential losses the SIU says it prevented, while R936 million in cash or assets was recovered.
The figures provide a broader measure of the financial impact of corruption investigations than cash recoveries alone. Contracts declared invalid or set aside account for the overwhelming majority of the R28.5 billion, meaning the full amount should not be interpreted as R28.5 billion in cash returned directly to the state.
The SIU also closed 5,917 investigations conducted under presidential proclamations during the year and submitted 48 investigation reports to the Presidency.
Those investigations covered some of South Africa’s most prominent public institutions and infrastructure projects, including Tembisa Hospital, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, Ithala Development Finance Corporation and the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works in Tshwane.
Other investigations involved the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport, Makana Local Municipality, eThekwini’s water and sanitation services and the Department of Home Affairs.
PRASA accounted for the largest portion of civil proceedings instituted by the SIU, with cases valued at approximately R6.91 billion.
Across its investigations, the unit identified evidence of alleged civil wrongdoing valued at R10.7 billion that was referred for civil proceedings.
Potential criminal conduct produced another substantial number. The SIU made 761 criminal referrals to the National Prosecuting Authority involving officials, private companies and individuals suspected of wrongdoing.
A criminal referral does not amount to a finding of guilt or guarantee prosecution. The NPA must assess the evidence and determine whether criminal proceedings should follow.
Another 460 government officials were referred to their respective institutions for disciplinary action.
The SIU has also expanded the use of lifestyle audits, conducting them during the year at eight government departments and state entities, including PRASA, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, Housing Development Agency and offices of the premiers in Gauteng and the Northern Cape.
SIU head Leonard Lekgetho said reducing corruption would require more than investigations after public money had already been lost.
“If we’re serious about ending the scourge of corruption, we need to ensure that the opportunity to commit corruption is reduced; the ability to conceal corruption is weakened; and that those responsible face appropriate consequences,” he said.
The SIU also maintained an unqualified audit outcome for the financial year.
The scale of the figures illustrates both sides of South Africa’s corruption fight: investigators are succeeding in overturning contracts and protecting billions of rand, but the thousands of investigations, hundreds of criminal referrals and R10.7 billion in civil matters also show how much public money continues to become entangled in suspected maladministration and wrongdoing.
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