South Africa president Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the establishment of a special tribunal to swiftly recover monies and assets lost by state institutions through irregular and corrupt means.

Fast-tracking

The special tribunal, led by Judge Gidfonia Mlindelwa Makhanya, will fast track the finalisation of matters that the special investigating unit (SIU) refers for civil litigation following the conclusion of their investigations for both public and private sectors persons and entities. The Presidency said these are matters where the SIU would have referred to civil litigation contracts entered into by state institutions to be declared irregularly invalid or set aside. A statement by the presidency said, ‘fast-tracking these matters through the special tribunal will enable the SIU to recover monies and or assets lost by state institutions through irregular and corrupt means; thus ensuring that those who are responsible for the loss of monies and or assets by state institutions are held accountable.’

Eight justices

The powers and functions of the Special Tribunal are to adjudicate upon any civil proceedings brought before it by a SIU in its own name or on behalf of a state institution or any interested party as defined by the regulations, emanating from the investigation by such SIU. Such civil proceedings will be based on the outcomes from the investigations by SIU, the Presidency said. Justice Makhanya, appointed as the president of the tribunal for a period of three years, will be supported by seven other judges. These are judges Icantharuby Pillay, Johannes Eksteen, Selewe Peter Mothle Lebogang Modiba, Thina Siwendu, David van Zyl and Sirajudien Desai.