Swimming SA concedes SIU requested assembly over Franschhoek hundreds of thousands

Situated within the coronary heart of Franschhoek, surrounded by world-renowned wine farms and rolling mountains, is the 176-year-old Franschhoek High School.

Lying in stark distinction to its picturesque environment are derelict buildings and half-built swimming swimming pools on the college’s property.

This was imagined to be a state-of-the-art excessive efficiency centre, constructed by Swimming South Africa (SSA). But after a decade in improvement and hundreds of thousands of rands poured into the challenge, there’s little to point out for it.

Now, after months of denying any investigation into SSA and the funding tied to the Franschhoek High Performance Centre, the nation’s nationwide aquatics physique has lastly acknowledged that the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has contacted it over the matter.

The SIU confirmed to Daily Maverick in 2025, and once more in March 2026, that there was an lively and ongoing investigation into the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) grant allotted to the Franschhoek High Performance Centre.

“The SIU’s investigation into the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) grant to the Franschhoek High Performance Centre remains ongoing,” Ngwako Motsieng, appearing spokesperson for the SIU, reconfirmed to Daily Maverick on 30 March.

“The SIU does not investigate individuals or entities, but rather the processes – in this instance, the process that led to the allocation of NLC funding. Through this work, the investigation may identify individuals or entities that potentially benefited improperly.

“At this stage, we are unable to disclose further details, as doing so may compromise the integrity of the investigation.”

Up till final week, SSA constantly denied any data of an investigation.

In a press release launched in February, SSA mentioned: “SSA categorically places it on record that Swimming South Africa is not under investigation by the SIU, has never been notified of any investigation and has not been contacted by the SIU or any investigative authority at any time.”

But on 20 May, SSA shifted its place, stating it had been notified for the primary time of an investigation solely this week when the SIU emailed a request for a gathering.

“Swimming South Africa (SSA) received an email from the SIU (18 May 2026) asking to meet to discuss the Project which was awarded to Swimming South Africa by the NLC during 2023,” Mafata Modutoane, operations supervisor of SSA, informed Daily Maverick by way of e mail correspondence.

“Prior to this, neither the SIU nor any other person has communicated with SSA about an investigation into the national lotteries-funded SSA project.”

However, SSA maintained that the challenge was not below a “forensic review”, regardless of the SIU’s formal request to satisfy.

National lotteries grant

The SIU investigation centres on the NLC grant that was awarded for the development of a World Aquatics-standard excessive efficiency centre in Franschhoek.

The complete price of the challenge was set to be R111-million, with funding coming from numerous stakeholders.

So far, SSA has acquired about R50-million in funding, from World Aquatics (about R8.5-million), the NLC (about R35-million) and The Sports Trust (about R6-million).

The NLC funding, allotted in 2023, was meant to be paid in three tranches.

SSA did affirm that it acquired funding from the NLC, however claimed that not the entire quantity had been acquired.

In its February assertion, SSA rejected any wrongdoing and portrayed itself as being hamstrung by crimson tape.

The federation blamed delays on the excessive efficiency centre on stalled nationwide lotteries funding, saying solely one in every of three tranches had been paid regardless of work allegedly being verified.

“SSA has on numerous occasions called upon the National Lotteries Commission to release all outstanding grant funding to enable the Franschoek project to be completed, but it declined to do so,” Modutoane informed Daily Maverick this week, sustaining SSA’s stance from February.

“Any delay in the completion of the project cannot be attributed to any conduct of SSA, but rather due to payment freezes by the NLC.”

Read extra: More questions on High Performance Centre raised as Swimming SA hides behind processes

Daily Maverick approached the NLC for remark, additionally in March, however the statutory physique referred to its assertion it beforehand despatched to Daily Maverick in 2025.

“The NLC has already issued a media statement regarding matters referred to the SIU, and as such, it would be premature for the NLC to provide further comment at this stage while the SIU investigation is ongoing,” mentioned Rudzani Tshigemane, advertising and marketing and communications supervisor for the NLC.

This basically echoes its earlier assertion, confirming an investigation is below method and that additional remark wouldn’t be supplied till the matter is finalised.

During a press briefing on 13 May, Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie confirmed that the NLC funding had been stopped.

“I can assure you that I know of the Franschhoek matter,” mentioned the minister. “Lotto has stopped the funding.”

‘A mess’

McKenzie additionally mentioned that the SIU had taken “a keen interest” within the Franschhoek High Performance Centre.

“The SIU is still to come and brief us on how far they are with the investigation, but I’ve also learnt from very good authority that the SIU is investigating that,” mentioned McKenzie.

“It’s a mess,” he added. “I visited the Franschhoek matter. I’m going back there next week so that I can put a rugby pitch so long at Franschhoek as the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.

“We are meeting with Sascoc, because the time to take action has arrived.”

Modutoane informed Daily Maverick that the minister had but to have interaction with SSA.

“Regarding comments made by Minister Gayton McKenzie during his recent press briefing, SSA has, to date, not received any formal communication from the minister’s office regarding a proposed meeting,” mentioned Modutoane.

“Should Minister McKenzie wish to meet with SSA, SSA will of course oblige.”

In the meantime, the deserted development website stands as a stark reminder of a challenge that promised to remodel South African swimming, however as a substitute has change into mired in delays and an lively SIU investigation.

Swimming South Africa is attempting to maintain its head above water, however the water’s too deep and the present retains pulling it down. DM