Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has extended the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) probe into the affairs of the Department of Rural Development and Land Affairs, says the Presidency.
This, the Presidency said on Wednesday, is done in terms of section 2(4) of the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act.
President Zuma on 14 February this year authorised, in terms of Proclamation No 7 of 2014, the SIU to investigate allegations of theft, fraud, corruption and maladministration in the affairs of the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform.
The allegations were in relation to the lodging and processing of deeds on the deeds registration system of Pretoria, Cape Town and Bloemfontein.
“According to the proclamation, the SIU’s investigation was supposed to cover the period 1 January 2008 to 14 February 2014.
“The President has now amended the Proclamation to allow for a further extension of the period of investigation, and therefore the relevant terms of reference, from 14 February 2014 (the date upon which the Proclamation was published) to the date of publication of the new Proclamation, to bring certain new information and new allegations within the scope of the SIU’s on-going investigation,” said the Presidency.
It said the extension is fully supported by the Ministry of Rural Development and Land Reform. - SAnews.gov.za
