The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) is currently investigating 110 cases involving more than R126-million of alleged corruption within the Department of Basic Education (DBE).
The Hawks are also probing alleged corruption linked to a National Treasury contract worth R1-billion and 19 cases in the health department involving R922, 977 127.
The cases that are under the microscope within the DBE involve R126, 758 008 of alleged corruption.
Scopa briefing
This was revealed on Wednesday in parliament by Maj-Gen Mmeli Makinyane, the Hawks’ acting divisional commissioner for priority offences.
On Wednesday, parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) received a briefing from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Hawks on corruption cases referred to them by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
These cases involve government departments, public entities, municipalities, and other high profile matters. The presentation showed that the majority of cases that the Hawks were probing involved the DBE.
During his presentation, Makinyane said the Hawks was currently probing 201 corruption cases. These are linked to government departments, state-owned entities, and municipalities. And 110 of those cases are from the DBE.
Makinyane said the DBE case includes fraud, theft, corruption, contravention of the Public Finance Management Act and the Municipal Finance Management Act.
R1bn National Treasury graft
Moreover, Makinyane said the Hawks were currently investigating one case in the National Treasury involving R1-billion of alleged corruption.
He also said the Hawks were investigating 19 cases in the health department involving R922, 977 127.
Meanwhile, Makinyane said the Hawks are investigating four state capture cases that were referred to them by the SIU.
He said the state capture cases involve 31 recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into allegations of State Capture.
Makinyane added that out of the four state capture cases under investigation, two are before court. He said one has been finalised with a conviction, and one matter is under investigation.
Covid-19 cases
With regard to Covid-19 cases, Makinyane said the Hawks has received 93 Covid-19-related cases with SIU referrals.
He said 22 of the 93 Covid-19-related cases are before the court.
The 22 Covid-19 cases before the court consist of 73 accused persons, 25 juristic persons and 48 natural persons. The Hawks submitted 12 Covid-19 cases to the NPA for a decision, he added.
He said the Hawks is currently investigating 59 Covid-19 cases.
Makinyane also spoke on the National Lottery Commission (NLC) cases. He said the total number of referrals from the SIU relating to the funding of NPOs and non-profit companies (NPCs) by the NLC is eight referrals.
Makinyane said the Hawks is investigating seven case dockets from the eight SIU referrals it received.
He said only one case docket with an SIU referral is before the court.
