Inside Makana’s water woes and tender probes

SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the probe was nearing completion and the unit was in the process of compiling the Final Presidential Report to be submitted to the office of the president in the next quarter of 2026. In October 2024, the Makhanda magistrate’s court granted the SIU a warrant to search the premises of the Makana Local Municipality and seize evidence that might assist with the investigation. A month later, the SIU, assisted by the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (Hawks) unit, raided the offices of the municipality, confiscating laptops, phones and other evidence.

Kganyago said the SIU and the Hawks collected documentation and equipment to investigate tenders from January 2019 to October 2024. Four of the seven tenders that were investigated were water-related. This included the Makana Bulk Sewer Upgrade Phase 1.

Kganyago said the office of the auditor-general had flagged contracts and goods or services procured by the municipality with a transaction value above R200,000 without inviting competitive bids. In a report handed over to the municipality in February 2025, the SIU outlined its findings and emphasised the municipality had a legal obligation to pay the SIU’s fees for the investigation. Kganyago said the estimated amount was just more than R12m, which would need to be paid by the municipality. Makana spokesperson Anele Mjekula confirmed in 2025 that the municipality had planned to apply for an exemption as it would not be able to afford the fees quoted by the SIU.