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SIU Recovers Billions for SA but Faces Deep Funding Crisis

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2 months ago

June 25, 2025

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South Africa’s anti-corruption watchdog, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), has recovered more money than it has spent over the past six years, but now faces a budget crisis that could stall its operations.

Despite clawing back R6.6 billion for the state at an operational cost of R5.2 billion, the SIU is battling shrinking grant funding, a mountain of unpaid invoices, and a growing workload.

On Tuesday, Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development heard just how strained the SIU and Legal Aid South Africa have become, despite both being critical to fighting corruption and ensuring access to justice.

Rising workload, shrinking support

The SIU revealed that proclamations requiring investigations have risen by 52% over the past nine years, while its staff complement has only grown by 6.5%.

Still, the unit has delivered uncovering billions in stolen or misused public funds. But its grant income has been cut, dropping from R489 million in 2023/24 to R459 million in 2025/26. This, even as more corruption cases come its way.

Parliamentary committee chairperson Xola Nqola called the situation critical:

“These institutions are doing excellent work. But their ability to serve the public is being severely hampered by underfunding.”

Unpaid government bills add pressure

The SIU is also owed R1.2 billion in unpaid invoices from the very government it works to protect. Provincial departments owe the most about R358 million, followed by public entities and national departments.

In response, the SIU launched Project Khokhela, a targeted debt recovery campaign that has already issued formal demands to the top 20 defaulting state institutions.

The goal is to secure payments within months, but without stronger Treasury support, sustainability remains out of reach.

Plans to expand lifestyle audits in limbo

Among its plans, the SIU wants to permanently roll out lifestyle audits as part of government’s risk management strategy. It also wants to expand its workforce to 1,100 employees—but says it needs R250 million more per year to do this.

Without urgent intervention, those plans are likely to stall.

Legal Aid SA also bleeding under budget cuts

The committee also heard from Legal Aid South Africa, which is battling a R239 million budget cut for 2025/26.

Salaries account for 80% of its budget, leaving little room for operational costs. Position freezes and delayed hiring are now impacting the organisation’s ability to serve vulnerable South Africans.

Office rental costs rising faster than the entity’s allocations are worsening the situation.

“We have reached the limit of cost-saving,” Legal Aid SA warned.

Urgent reform needed

Both institutions say their futures depend on a revised funding model. For the SIU, this means amending its governing legislation to better align with the rising demand for investigations.

Nqola pledged the committee’s support to push for these reforms:

“Access to justice and the fight against corruption are non-negotiable. We must ensure that these institutions are financially equipped to do their jobs.”