Johannesburg - The fisheries department has handed over an investigation into suspected internal maladministration and corruption to the police.
“The investigation is effectively out of the hands of the department and the minister,” the department's acting director general Sipho Ntombela said on Thursday.
“Once complete, the SAPS (SA Police Service) will advise the department on appropriate actions to be taken.”
In March, the department started an investigation into the awarding of a tender for the management and maintenance of the department's fleet of research and fisheries patrol vessels.
The company, Smit Amandla Marine, had been providing the vessel management function to the government for the past decade.
“The initial investigation was carried out by a reputable forensic firm which uncovered that there are possible cases of corruption in the fisheries branch,” Ntombela said.
“The investigation by the SAPS is a culmination of this process.” - Sapa