New SIU head to be appointed in February

President Jacob Zuma is responsible for the appointment of the head of the SIU. In December 2011, President Zuma appointed Advocate Nomvula Mokhatla, the Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions, to act as the head of the SIU.

Mokhatla took over from Advocate Nomgcobo Jiba, who had been acting in that position since the announcement of the resignation of Advocate Willem Heath who tendered his resignation in writing on 14 December 2011.

"There is an acting head of the SIU which has the same powers, authority like full time special investigative unit head. So there is no crisis. I expect that the permanent appointment to the SIU should be made before the end of February. That process is on track," said Radebe.

Radebe was speaking at a media briefing on the Inkandla task team report which found that there was no evidence of public money spent to build the private residence of the President.

The Unit is an independent statutory body that is accountable to the President and Parliament. It was set up in terms of the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunal Act, 1996 (SIU Act), and is mandated to investigate, recover and prevent financial losses to the state due to various acts of corruption, fraud and maladministration.