An ongoing probe by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has lifted the lid on apparent wide-scale graft in the Office of the State Attorney, and revealed how “ghost” claimants score massive pay-outs of which the real beneficiaries seem completely unaware. The Citizen reports that in 2018 the SIU was appointed to investigate the Office of the State Attorney’s handling of litigation on behalf of various government departments, including its handling of medical negligence claims in Gauteng and the Eastern Cape.
In a presentation to Parliament last week, the SIU revealed that so far, its investigators had uncovered a morass of dodgy dealings and alleged private sector collusion, fraud and corruption. It said while it was still quantifying some amounts, 10 advocates had already been implicated in matters involving around R100m.
The unit said these investigations had already seen eight criminal cases of fraud – totalling R115m – and three inquiries relating to fraud – totalling over R79m – registered. It had also referred one official from the State Attorney’s Office to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and was considering referring another eight at this stage. In addition, it was in the process of referring 11 advocates – one of whom the SIU said had scored R34m from the State Attorney’s Office – to the NPA.
[link url="https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/investigation/2248388/siu-finds-ghosts-thieving-advocates-and-missing-millions-in-state-attorneys-office/"]Full report in The Citizen (subscription needed)[/link]