Covid-19 anti-corruption unit: no one can explain why it hasn't been set up

The justice cluster, NPA, SIU cannot explain why the special unit announced by the president hasn’t been set up as Covid-19 graft allegations pile up.

On March 23, President Cyril Ramaphosa proposed the formation of a Covid-19 anti-corruption unit to expedite the prosecution of those involved in corrupt activities. However, there was no clarity as to which structure of the justice, crime prevention and security cluster would oversee the setting up of the unit.

On May 13, City Press approached National Director of Public Prosecutions Shamila Batohi for comment on whether the unit had been constituted. In response to the enquiry, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) head of communications Bulelwa Makeke said: “This issue is being handled by the entire justice, crime prevention and security cluster. The cluster is working on a statement and it will be issued by tomorrow at the latest.”