The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has officially handed its investigation into suspected financial and procurement irregularities, maladministration, and corruption in the Fisheries Branch of the department to the South African Police Services (SAPS).
“The investigation is effectively out of the hands of the department and the Minister. Once complete, the SAPS will advise the department on appropriate actions to be taken,” the acting director general, Sipho Ntombela confirmed.
In March 2012, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, initiated a forensic investigation into the award and multiple extensions of the vessel management function to a shipping management company. Essentially the investigation had to establish whether there were irregularities in the past tenders and management thereof awarded to the company and to its business associates. Smit Amandla Marine has been providing the vessel management function to Government for the past 10 to 12 years.
The investigation mentioned above has reached a critical stage and the department has thus decided to hand it over to the SAPS for finalisation.
“The initial investigation was carried out by a reputable forensic firm that uncovered that there are possible cases of corruption in the Fisheries branch. The investigation by the SAPS is a culmination of this process“, Ntombela concludes.
Below please find a timeline of the events leading up to the handing over of the case to the SAPS:
Timeline:
- 2000 to 2005: The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism awards Smit Amandla Marine a tender for five years
- 2005 to 2010: The contact is extended for another five years, no tender process
- 2010: Contract is extended for a year
- 2011: Contract is extended for a year
- March 2012: Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries initiates investigation into the matter
- August 2012: Initial findings reveal possible irregularities in procurement, financial management and corruption
