Key Takeaways
- President Cyril Ramaphosa has mandated the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to examine multimillion‑rand transport tenders awarded by the North West government to Suliman Carrim’s companies.
- The investigation will also probe financial flows between Carrim’s joint venture (Ziggy Investments & Transnat Coach Lines) and the late taxi boss Jotham “King Mswazi” Msibi, including payments to the Santaco taxi federation.
- Carrim faces separate criminal charges for failing to appear before the Madlanga commission and refusing an independent medical assessment.
- The SIU’s remit extends to the troubled North West Transport Investment (NTI), which is currently under business rescue, and to the conduct of the appointed business‑rescue practitioner.
- The North West portfolio committee on community safety and transport management pledges rigorous oversight to ensure accountability, recovery of public funds, and the rebuilding of NTI into a sustainable transport entity.
Background of the SIU Probe
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s proclamation authorises the Special Investigating Unit to investigate alleged irregularities in tenders awarded by the North West department of community safety & transport management. The focus is on a R168 million contract granted to a joint venture between Ziggy Investments—owned by controversial businessman Suliman Carrim—and Transnat Coach Lines. The SIU’s mandate includes tracing money flows, assessing potential improper conduct, and determining whether any assets should be forfeited to the state.
Details of the Contested Tender
The North West department awarded the R168 million tender to the Ziggy Investments‑Transnat Coach Lines joint venture for subsidised bus transport services in Gauteng and the North West provinces. Evidence presented before the Madlanga commission indicated that the joint venture had business dealings with Jotham “King Mswazi” Msibi, a prominent figure in the taxi industry who died in January 2024. The contract’s scale and the involvement of high‑profile individuals raised immediate concerns about transparency and value for money.
Financial Links to Jotham Msibi
Investigators have uncovered several financial transactions linking the joint venture to Msibi. A proof of payment showed R700 000 transferred from Transnat Coach Lines to the Santaco taxi federation, with a WhatsApp message indicating an additional R300 000 remained outstanding. Furthermore, WhatsApp logs revealed that Msibi forwarded specific business details of the joint venture to Makhosini Msibi, CEO of the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC). These communications suggest that Msibi was not merely a peripheral actor but actively participated in the venture’s financial and operational aspects.
Other Associations of Suliman Carrim
Beyond the Msibi connection, Carrim has been financially linked to Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and Hangwani Maumela. The Madlanga commission had previously sought to question Carrim about these relationships, but he repeatedly failed to appear and refused to undergo an independent medical assessment, leading to criminal charges being opened against him. The SIU’s investigation will therefore also examine whether these associations influenced the tender process or resulted in improper benefit to any party.
Scope of the SIU’s Mandate
The presidential proclamation empowers the SIU to investigate allegations of improper conduct arising from the unlawful or improper actions of the business‑rescue practitioner appointed to NTI in July 2022, or any other person or entity that may have unduly benefited themselves or others. It also covers the causes of serious maladministration, any losses or damages suffered by NTI, and potential asset forfeiture. This broad mandate allows the SIU to follow the evidence wherever it leads, including possible criminal conduct.
Business Rescue of North West Transport Investment
NTI entered voluntary business rescue in July 2022 after encountering financial difficulties, with Hendrick Samons initially appointed as practitioner. A Gauteng High Court ruling in favour of the North West department led to Samons’ removal and the appointment of Mahomed Mahier Tayob as the new business‑rescue practitioner. The SIU will scrutinise whether the business‑rescue process was conducted lawfully, whether any practitioner or associated party sought undue advantage, and how the rescue efforts impacted the entity’s financial health and public service delivery.
Statement from the Portfolio Committee Chair
Freddy Sonakile, chair of the North West provincial legislature’s portfolio committee on community safety and transport management, welcomed the SIU probe, stating it provides the necessary statutory mandate to follow the evidence and pursue recovery measures where losses are confirmed. He emphasised the committee’s commitment to rigorous oversight until accountability is achieved, consequence management is enforced, and every possible effort is made to recover public funds lost through wrongdoing. Sonakile reiterated the ultimate goal of protecting workers, restoring reliable commuter services, and rebuilding NTI into a functional, sustainable public‑transport entity for the North West populace.
Implications and Next Steps
The SIU investigation could result in significant legal and financial repercussions for Suliman Carrim, his business partners, and any officials implicated in the tender award process. If impropriety is established, the unit may recommend asset forfeiture, civil recovery actions, or referrals to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) for criminal prosecution. Simultaneously, the oversight of NTI’s business rescue will be critical to ensure that the process safeguards public interest rather than facilitating further maladministration. Stakeholders, including transport workers, commuters, and taxpayers, await the SIU’s findings, which will shape future governance of public‑transport contracts in the North West province.
