This statement contains extracts of answers provided by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson at yesterday's Cabinet sitting:
Answering a question posed in the national legislature yesterday, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ms Joemat-Pettersson said there is an investigation being conducted into the procurement processes and systems in the fisheries branch of the department. The question was on the R800 million tender for the operation and maintenance of state-owned marine patrol vessels.
The Hawks and Asset Forfeiture Unit are busy with an extremely sensitive and important investigation into corruption in the Fisheries branch in excess of R1 billion relating to the irregular, illegal extension of this contract with the private sector.
Yesterday, Business Report reported that the Black Business Chamber of Commerce will also write to the Public Protector about the irregular tender awarded to the Smit Amandla Marine in 2005 and extended in 2010 and 2011. We welcome this move and call on more businesses and the community to come forward with any information that may assist us in curbing corruption.
When Minister highlights corruption in her department, she is accused of having ‘lost the plot’ or being ‘paranoid’. We cannot escape the fact that more than R1 billion is unaccounted for in the fisheries branch. We also cannot escape the fact that the awarding of tenders, irregularly, to a fishing company since 2005, was illegal and criminal. We have been blocked from doing the right thing by the very party that presents itself as the custodian of morality and good governance. Certain individuals have also taken to rubbishing the Minister's laudable efforts to adequately deal with corruption in the media.
Why has there been no outcry over such wasteful spending and blatant corruption? When the Democratic Alliance speaks of corruption it is hailed as ‘whistle blowers’ but when an African National Congress leader speaks of the same issues, Minister Joemat-Pettersson is smeared and slandered and her credibility questioned.
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries speaks on R1 billion irregular tender
