Govt to establish additional Special Commercial Crimes Courts

The President said this when he responded to oral questions in the National Council of Provinces on Tuesday.

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the government is looking at establishing additional Special Commercial Crimes Courts in several cities, given the rise in commercial crimes and COVID-19 procurement corruption.

The President said this when he responded to oral questions in the National Council of Provinces on Tuesday.

"The rise in serious commercial crimes and incidents of COVID-19 procurement corruption has meant that we are fast-tracking the establishment of additional Special Commercial Crimes Courts, and increasing capacity of existing ones," he said.

He said this after a SA Revenue Service COVID-19 project team conducted an investigation that has laid bare incidents of tax evasion in relation to COVID-19 procurement.

As at end of September 2020, there were 307 cases, with an estimated tax revenue loss of R300 million.

There are 139 companies referred for potential tax evasion investigation.

"We are looking to establish additional Special Commercial Crimes Courts in Polokwane, Mbombela, Mahikeng, Mthatha, and Mangaung.

"A lot of work is happening to ensure that we handle all these COVID-related cases," the President said.

Government, he said, has responded swiftly and decisively to allegations of corruption in the award of COVID-19 related contracts.

Measures taken include the establishment of a fusion centre, which brings together nine law enforcement agencies to share information and resources and ensure a coordinated response.

"On 23 July 2020, I issued a proclamation to the Special Investigating Unit to investigate COVID-19 related maladministration and unlawful conduct in any State institution during the national state of disaster.

"The SIU is currently looking into 932 matters under the issued proclamation, and all these matters are at different stages of the investigation.

"The SIU has, to date, provided me with two interim reports, which outline progress in the investigations, including where investigations have been finalized.

"The reports of SIU investigations will be made public once all the necessary processes have been completed and there is no risk of jeopardizing ongoing investigations," said President Ramaphosa.

(With Inputs from South African Government Press Release)