SIU probes Rooiwal plant tender paid before work was finished
Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.
The Daily Maverick reported that a tender of about 295 million rand for Tshwane's Rooiwal plant, awarded to a Sodi-linked joint venture, was paid before the work was finished. At stake is safe drinking water in Hammanskraal, where a cholera outbreak occurred and Tshwane pays private tankers 8.5 million rand a month.
- Sodi-linked joint venture — Awarded the Rooiwal tender, which was paid before completion Daily Maverick
- Private tanker operators — Paid 8.5 million rand a month for 44 tankers in Hammanskraal EWN
- Tshwane municipality — Paid for the Rooiwal tender before completion, and for tankers at about 450 million rand a year citywide EWN
- Hammanskraal residents — Affected by the cholera outbreak and undrinkable water; the sources give no count
What happened
The Daily Maverick reported in September 2023 that President Ramaphosa had launched a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) probe of a tender of about 295 million rand for the Rooiwal plant, awarded to a Sodi-linked joint venture and paid before the work was finished.
The Sowetan reported in January 2025 that the SIU wanted disciplinary action against 12 officials over irregular scoring, and that Sodi was on trial over a 255 million rand asbestos tender.
EWN reported in July 2024 that Tshwane pays 44 private tankers in Hammanskraal 8.5 million rand a month, and 450 million rand a year citywide.
IOL The Post reported in March 2026 that the South African Police Service set up dedicated units to combat water tanker mafias that exploit municipal supply disruptions.
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
- OngoingTrial over 255 million rand asbestos tenderNot named in the sources reviewed · unknown · State (not named in the sources reviewed) → Sodi
The Sowetan reported in January 2025 that Sodi was on trial over a 255 million rand asbestos tender. No verdict is recorded in the sources reviewed. Sowetan
Insurers
What we don't know
Nature
- Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.
Record
- Insufficient Reported but not verified: allegations of payments to the ANC, which the sources say rest on a newspaper column.
- None on record Not reported in the sources reviewed: whether any of the money paid has been recovered.
- None on record The case table gives 292 million rand as paid before completion, while the Daily Maverick gives about 295 million as the tender value; the reviewed sources do not reconcile the two.
- None on record Not reported in the sources reviewed: the official cause of the cholera outbreak; a link to the tender is not established.
- None on record No conviction is recorded in the reviewed sources for Sodi or for any official.
Did the harm stop?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Who paid?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Sources
Press and investigations
- SIU to probe Tshwane's R295m Rooiwal tenderDaily Maverick · 2023-09
- SIU wants officials to face DC again over Sodi tenderSowetan · 2025-01