President Ramaphosa Orders SIU Probe Into R168 Million Tender Linked to Suliman Carrim
- President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised a Special Investigating Unit probe into tenders awarded by the North West government to companies linked to Suliman Carrim
- An R168 million contract at the centre of the investigation was awarded to a joint venture involving Carrim's Transnat Coach Lines and Ziggy Investments
- Carrim is already facing criminal charges after repeatedly failing to appear before the Madlanga Commission, which is probing corruption in the criminal justice system
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SOUTH AFRICA — President Cyril Ramaphosa has sanctioned a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) investigation into multimillion-rand tenders that the North West provincial government awarded to companies connected to businessman Suliman Carrim.
The probe will examine allegations of improper conduct, financial irregularities, and potential losses suffered by the state as a result of the contracts in question.
R168 million contract at the centre of the SIU probe
The largest tender under scrutiny is an R168 million contract issued by the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management. The agreement was granted to a joint venture between Carrim's Transnat Coach Lines and Ziggy Investments.
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As part of the investigation, the SIU will also examine financial transactions between that joint venture and the late taxi industry figure Jotham "King Mswazi" Msibi, who died in January 2024.
North West Transport Investment (NTI), the entity involved in awarding the tenders, will come under the SIU's scrutiny as well. NTI is currently under business rescue.
Investigators are authorised to assess whether Carrim and other connected parties derived undue benefits from the state. Should the investigation uncover wrongdoing, legal proceedings could be initiated to recover money or assets believed to have been improperly obtained.
Carrim faces mounting pressure
The SIU probe deepens a period of sustained scrutiny for Carrim. He has previously evaded appearing before the Madlanga Commission, which is investigating allegations of corruption and criminality within South Africa's criminal justice system.
Carrim previously attributed his absences to health complications, including claims that he had suffered a heart attack after collapsing at a gym.
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The SIU's investigation into his business dealings with the North West government now runs alongside those proceedings, as investigators work to determine what occurred with the multimillion-rand contracts and whether the state incurred any financial losses as a consequence.
Madlanga Commission orders criminal charges against Carrim
Previously, Briefly News reported that the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry took decisive action against North West businessman Suliman Carrim after he failed to appear before the inquiry on Friday, 14 August 2026. Chairperson of the Commission, Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, ordered that criminal charges be laid against him. Justice Madlanga instructed the Commission's secretary, Dr Nolitha Vukuza, to formally initiate criminal charges against Carrim, stating plainly that the inquiry had exhausted all avenues to bring him before it.
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Source: Briefly News
