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The Special Investigating Unit is “one of South Africa’s most effective anti-corruption agencies”, says the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in a policy brief titled The future of South Africa’s Special Investigating Unit.
The unit’s job is to recover government losses from financial crime. When there are serious allegations of corruption, malpractice and maladministration in state institutions, the presidency can authorise the unit to investigate with a presidential proclamation.
How effective are these investigations? “It is difficult to measure the effectiveness of anti-corruption agencies, and reputation is often used as an indication of effectiveness,” says the ISS.
But one measurable metric is the value of cash and assets recovered. Over the past five years, the SIU has recovered nearly R5-billion in assets. Another R19.5-billion worth of contracts were set aside because of SIU investigations.
The 2023/24 financial year was particularly successful, with R2.3-billion in assets recovered, most of which were from two major investigations into Transnet and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.