GAUTENG. – The Special Investigative Unit (SOE) raided the offices of the Regulatory Authority for the Private Security Industry(Psira) in Centurion, Pretoria, on Tuesday in connection with an investigation into a training contract worth approximately R130 million.
Selby Makgotho, spokesperson for the SOE, says the Special Tribunal granted a search and seizure warrant on 17 September. The SOE carried out the operation with the assistance of the Hawks. The investigation follows Proclamation 316 of 2026, which President Cyril Ramaphosa signed on 3 June 2026.
Selby Makgotho, spokesperson for the SOE, says the unit requested Psira to provide documents regarding the procurement or contracting of training services by or on behalf of Psira and the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF). This relates to election observer training, computer skills training and Psira grade E-to-C training for 7 071 targeted learners across nine provinces. According to the SOE, Psira only partially complied with the request and a year's worth of documents needed for the investigation are missing. The SOE therefore decided to obtain a search and seizure warrant to seize documents, cellular phones and computers, among other things. The unit says such action is used as a last resort after attempts to secure full cooperation have failed.
The SOE has the authority under the Special Investigative Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996 to, among other things, obtain bank statements and cellular phone records, search evidence and seize it, and examine witnesses under oath. The unit can also institute civil proceedings in the High Court or Special Tribunal should corruption, fraud or maladministration come to light during the investigation. Any evidence pointing to possible criminal conduct will, according to the SOE, be referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action.
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
