Overview

• Lesiba Arnold Malotana was suspended with immediate effect as the investigation intensifies.
• Dr Darion Barclay was appointed acting head to ensure stability, drawn from Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
• The SIU says at least three syndicates are tied to roughly R2 billion in suspicious payments involving 207 service providers and 4,501 purchase orders.
• Officials allegedly benefited at least R122 million, and investigators warn the number of implicated staff could rise.
• The provincial government pledged to act on SIU recommendations and to publish MEC performance agreements on 16 October, while the DA urged placing the department under administration.