By hook or captured crook, Kimi is on the case
Auditor-general ready to use private forensics to help nab the looters
Auditor-general Kimi Makwetu says he will use private investigative agencies if necessary to ensure that public officials are brought to book for looting state coffers. Irregular expenditure rose to R45-billion in the 2016-17 financial year, he told parliament this month. It could be as high as R65-billion, he says. Not all public entities - including government departments, municipalities and state-owned enterprises - reported their financial results by September 30, as required by law. Many of those that did report hid documents from his auditors; Makwetu suspects these could contain evidence of much more irregular expenditure than has come to light. But because his office does not have investigative powers, or even the power to refer cases for investigation, serial offenders have been getting off scot-free. Although Makwetu says he believes there are countless instances where a prima facie case for criminal prosecution exists, not a single case has been prosecuted in the 18 years...
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