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Johannesburg - An investigation by the department of public works in partnership with the Special Investigations Unit has revealed a number of serious irregularities in the awarding of some tenders granted, Minister of Public Works Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde said on Monday.
Criminal charges were likely to be brought against several department officials and others outside the department, she said.
Mahlangu-Nkabinde said that since she took office 10 months ago, she had been investigating a number of tenders awarded by the department.
"I inherited a situation where serious irregularities had occurred. It was extraordinarily difficult to get to the truth of what had been taking place because some officials did everything they could to obstruct my investigations.
"Frankly, I have been lied to and deceived by people who instead of serving the people of South Africa were intent on lining their own pockets.
"We know of more than 40 cases where tenders were awarded improperly, where proper procedures were not followed and dishonesty took place. We have confirmed to date that tenders with a value of more than R3bn have been affected.
"Because we are still investigating, we cannot be sure that we have yet discovered all of the wrongdoing. We will involve law enforcement agencies within the public service and the criminal justice cluster in the hope that the wrongdoers will be brought to justice."
Criminal charges were likely to be brought against several department officials and others outside the department, she said.
Mahlangu-Nkabinde said that since she took office 10 months ago, she had been investigating a number of tenders awarded by the department.
"I inherited a situation where serious irregularities had occurred. It was extraordinarily difficult to get to the truth of what had been taking place because some officials did everything they could to obstruct my investigations.
"Frankly, I have been lied to and deceived by people who instead of serving the people of South Africa were intent on lining their own pockets.
"We know of more than 40 cases where tenders were awarded improperly, where proper procedures were not followed and dishonesty took place. We have confirmed to date that tenders with a value of more than R3bn have been affected.
"Because we are still investigating, we cannot be sure that we have yet discovered all of the wrongdoing. We will involve law enforcement agencies within the public service and the criminal justice cluster in the hope that the wrongdoers will be brought to justice."
