PRETORIA, Monday 14 September 2026 — President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the Special Investigating Unit to investigate North West transport contracts including an approximately R168 million bus contract involving companies linked to businessman Suliman Carrim, extending scrutiny of transactions that have also surfaced in evidence before the Madlanga Commission.
The investigation covers contracts involving the North West transport sector and the affairs of the troubled North West Transport Investment, which is currently in business rescue, according to reporting on the presidential proclamation published on Monday.
The SIU investigation is separate from the Madlanga Commission and does not constitute a finding of wrongdoing against Carrim or any other person.
R168m transport contract under scrutiny
At the centre of the new investigation is an approximately R168 million contract awarded by the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management to a joint venture involving Transnat Coach Lines and Ziggy Investments.
Investigators are expected to examine the procurement process, payments and whether the state suffered financial losses.
The proclamation also brings the affairs of North West Transport Investment within the investigation, including aspects of its business-rescue process.
NTI has experienced prolonged financial and governance difficulties and entered voluntary business rescue in July 2022.
Carrim transactions surfaced at Madlanga Commission
The investigation has additional national political significance because some of the same business relationships recently featured before the Madlanga Commission, which is examining allegations of corruption and criminal infiltration of the justice system.
Commission evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson SC last month presented material concerning a joint venture involving Carrim-linked Ziggy Investments and Transnat Coach Lines and its dealings with late taxi-industry figure Jotham “King Mswazi” Msibi.
Evidence before the commission included financial records and messages allegedly showing payments and discussions relating to subsidised bus contracts.
The commission has repeatedly cautioned that material led before it is evidence requiring testing and does not amount to findings of criminal guilt.
Msibi is deceased and cannot respond to allegations concerning material extracted from his devices.
SIU can pursue civil recovery
The SIU’s powers differ substantially from those of a commission of inquiry.
It can investigate maladministration, improper conduct and losses to the state and, where evidence supports it, institute civil proceedings to recover money or assets.
Evidence of possible criminal conduct can also be referred to prosecuting authorities.
The SIU itself does not prosecute criminal cases.
That makes Ramaphosa’s authorisation potentially consequential beyond fact-finding, because any identified loss to the state could lead to attempts to set contracts aside or recover public funds.
North West legislature has already scrutinised NTI
NTI was under extensive provincial legislative scrutiny before the presidential proclamation.
The North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management has been conducting a fact-finding process into the entity’s governance, finances, contractual obligations and business-rescue arrangements since 2024.
Earlier this year, the committee summoned former executives, service providers and other role-players linked to NTI’s finances and escrow arrangements.
The committee also engaged the SIU, Hawks and Department of Employment and Labour on matters it had referred for investigation.
The presidential proclamation now gives the SIU its own statutory mandate to investigate specified conduct within the transport entities and contracts concerned.
Carrim already faces separate Madlanga Commission dispute
Carrim has separately been involved in a legal dispute arising from the Madlanga Commission after failing to appear before the inquiry and declining an independent medical assessment requested in relation to his ability to testify.
Those proceedings are distinct from the new SIU investigation.
The fact that the same businessman and transport transactions appear across different oversight processes does not establish criminal conduct.
Each institution must reach its own conclusions according to its mandate and evidence.
Probe widens pressure on North West transport governance
The new investigation adds another layer of scrutiny to a provincial transport system that has faced persistent questions over financial sustainability and procurement.
NTI has historically operated subsidised commuter bus services in parts of North West and Gauteng.
Its business-rescue status means government must simultaneously consider service continuity, debts, contracts and the future structure of the company.
The SIU investigation will now examine whether specified historical decisions or transactions contributed to losses or maladministration.
Links to Madlanga evidence raise national stakes
The investigation would ordinarily be significant as a provincial procurement matter.
Its overlap with evidence before the Madlanga Commission elevates its importance because the commission is examining alleged relationships between business figures, criminal networks, police officials and public institutions.
BusinessLIVE reported that the SIU is expected to examine financial flows connected to the Carrim-linked joint venture and Msibi.
Any overlap between the SIU’s findings and evidence before the commission could provide independent corroboration — or contradict allegations aired at the inquiry.
For now, however, the investigation is at its beginning.
The key questions will be whether the SIU finds that procurement rules were breached, whether the state suffered losses and whether any evidence warrants civil recovery or referral for criminal investigation.
