ActionSA Welcomes Public Protector Investigation into the State’s Failure to Blacklist Corrupt Suppliers
Press Statement by Alan Beesley MP
ActionSA Member of Parliament
ActionSA welcomes confirmation from the Office of the Public Protector that it has formally launched an investigation into systemic maladministration by the Presidency, National Treasury and Accounting Officers for their failure to act on corruption referrals made by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
This follows ActionSA’s formal complaint lodged on 18 September 2025, after a briefing to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) revealed that of 467 individuals and companies flagged by the SIU for blacklisting on the National Treasury’s Restricted Suppliers Register, only 1 had actually been listed. This failure to implement SIU recommendations is allowing suppliers implicated in corruption and maladministration to continue doing business with the state.
The Public Protector’s letter confirms that the complaint has been accepted under section 6(4) of the Public Protector Act and formally assigned to a lead investigator. This means that the complaint has passed the initial screening process and will proceed to a full investigation, a major step forward for accountability and consequence management across government.
While President Cyril Ramaphosa continues to offer lip service to accountability, it is his Presidency and his Executive that bear direct responsibility for this spectacular failure. Despite public assurances and repeated statements about cleaning up governance, the reality is that under the government of national unity (GNU), consequence management remains a hollow promise. If the Executive will not act, independent institutions must. And ActionSA welcomes the Public Protector’s resolve in stepping in where government has failed.
As South Africa’s constructive opposition in Parliament, ActionSA will continue to ensure that consequence management is enforced across all state institutions, and where it is not, that appropriate action is taken to hold those abusing the state procurement system to buy mansions and Lamborghinis accountable. Corrupt suppliers must be barred from ever doing business with the state, while those who enable their corruption must be fired immediately.
ActionSA Welcomes Public Protector Investigation into the State’s Failure to Blacklist Corrupt Suppliers
ActionSA welcomes confirmation from the Office of the Public Protector that it has formally launched an investigation into systemic maladministration by the Presidency, National Treasury and Accounting Officers for their failure to act on corruption referrals made by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
This follows ActionSA’s formal complaint lodged on 18 September 2025, after a briefing to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) revealed that of 467 individuals and companies flagged by the SIU for blacklisting on the National Treasury’s Restricted Suppliers Register, only 1 had actually been listed. This failure to implement SIU recommendations is allowing suppliers implicated in corruption and maladministration to continue doing business with the state.
The Public Protector’s letter confirms that the complaint has been accepted under section 6(4) of the Public Protector Act and formally assigned to a lead investigator. This means that the complaint has passed the initial screening process and will proceed to a full investigation, a major step forward for accountability and consequence management across government.
While President Cyril Ramaphosa continues to offer lip service to accountability, it is his Presidency and his Executive that bear direct responsibility for this spectacular failure. Despite public assurances and repeated statements about cleaning up governance, the reality is that under the government of national unity (GNU), consequence management remains a hollow promise. If the Executive will not act, independent institutions must. And ActionSA welcomes the Public Protector’s resolve in stepping in where government has failed.
As South Africa’s constructive opposition in Parliament, ActionSA will continue to ensure that consequence management is enforced across all state institutions, and where it is not, that appropriate action is taken to hold those abusing the state procurement system to buy mansions and Lamborghinis accountable. Corrupt suppliers must be barred from ever doing business with the state, while those who enable their corruption must be fired immediately.