Acting SIU head appointed

The presidency made the announcement on Monday afternoon.

 

Visagie is currently the executive manager of the unit's legal services.

 

Presidency spokesperson Mac Maharaj says Visagie has been with the SIU since 1997.

 

His appointment comes after the resignation of SIU head Vas Soni, just two years after his appointment.

 

Soni cited personal reasons for his resignation.

 

"My wife has not been well for five months now and as it was not possible for me to put in the long hours as the head of the SIU and discharge my responsibilities to her," Soni explained.

 

Heading the SIU is a tough task, he admitted.

 

"In a country like South Africa where there is so much maladministration and corruption, it is never going to be easy to head an organisation like this. At the same time I have found it to be a very enjoyable and fulfilling experience in my life," he said. "I am sorry I am not going to be around longer to implement all the ideas I came with."

 

Soni advised his successor to be more "creative" in the way investigations are conducted.

 

"We also need to be more creative in the way we deter people from being involved in maladministration, malpractices and corruption. There is no magic to this, just a question of hard work and leaving no stone unturned."

 

The outgoing SIU head said he didn't have enough time on in his position to fulfil his ambitions.