The Minister for Rural Development and Land Reform, Gugile Nkwinti, welcomes the latest efforts by the law enforcement agencies in the fight to uproot fraud and corruption related to agricultural land in the country, vindicating the decision of the department to approach the President to gazette a proclamation authorising the Special Investigating Units (SIU) to conduct investigations into possible fraud and corruption in land reform.
Two KwaZulu-Natal farms and assets worth approximately R14 million, linked to
on-going investigations into the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform’s land reform programme, have been seized by the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) as the department intensifies its campaign against fraud and corruption.
Last month detectives from the Hawks Commercial Crimes Unit in Pietermaritzburg arrested three officials and a KZN businessman, on fraud and corruption charges relating to the irregular awarding and administration of land reform grants totalling R36 million. The Asset Forfeiture Unit has also frozen property to the value of R36 million in the case. The four individuals have since appeared in the Ladysmith magistrates court and were all granted bail of between R20 000 and R50 000. The matter has been remanded for further investigation.
The SIU has been working with the department for approximately six months in a number of pre-investigations (where areas of concern are reviewed to determine the need for a full investigation). Following the SIU's initial reports, Minister Nkwinti decided to escalate these pre-investigations into a full investigation and has further committed significant resources to the investigation to enable the SIU to conduct comprehensive investigations, which will include possible solutions that could lead to land reform and land administration that is free of fraud and corruption in the country.
From the initial reports, it became clear that the investigation would need the full range of the SIU's powers. Minister Nkwinti and the SIU jointly approached the President for a Proclamation to authorise a full investigation, which the President subsequently signed and gazetted on Friday, 18 February 2011.
“The reason why we took a decision to establish the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform was to create a better life for our people in the rural areas and our vision “vibrant, equitable and sustainable rural communities” captures our intent very succinctly. Most of these people are amongst the poorest of the poor in our country and most depend on services and support from a caring government, without which their lives would be one of misery, squalor and deprivation. Stealing government resources set aside for these poor folks is tantamount to stealing from these poor people themselves. It is sickening if not sinful!” Minister Nkwinti said.
The Head of the Special Investigating Unit, Willie Hofmeyr, said “the department has really demonstrated a serious commitment to deal with corruption issues. These kinds of innovative partnerships are vital if we are going to deal with corruption effectively.”
The investigations focus on possible fraud, corruption, financial irregularities and maladministration in the administration of land grants. Therefore, the proclamation, which was jointly requested by the department and the SIU, covers the following areas:
1. The application for and award of grants and funds and the administration thereof by the department, under the land reform programme, in a manner that was:
2. The incurrence of irregular expenditure; fruitless and wasteful expenditure; and/or expenditure not due, owing and/or payable in relation to beneficiaries, consultants, and/or service providers in relation to the land reform programme of the department.
“The fight against crime and corruption is one of the priorities of this government. And it does not matter whether you are an official of the department, or a land reform beneficiary, or a land owner or you are one of the many in the value chain of land reform and land administration processes – my message is clear: if you commit crime, fraud or corruption, we will get you; if we get you, we will make you pay for your sins! We owe it to our people”, the Minister said.
The Minister appealed to any member of the public or the department who feel they have information which may assist in the investigation to contact the SIU on 0860 SIU SIU (0860 748 748). All calls will be treated with the strictest confidentiality and will receive the necessary attention.
Evictions toll-free number: 0800 007095
Enquiries:
Mr Eddie Mohoebi
Cell: 082 550 144
