Local News
North West MEC admits to flouting Public Finance Management Act─── CHRISTAL-LIZE MULLER 07:40 Wed, 30 Nov 2016
Rustenburg - North West Agricultural Development MEC, Manketse Tlhape, has admitted to flouting the Public Finance Management Act in the process of donating wildlife worth more than R100 million to private entities.
Tlhape appeared before the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs yesterday.
In a statement committee chairperson, Philemon Mapulane, said all donations of high value wildlife by the department to the South African Rare Game Breeders Association (SARGBA) were placed on hold until the committee and its counterpart in the agricultural industry have familiarised themselves with the process and all concerns have been fully addressed.
The meeting came after reports that rhino, buffalo and sable antelope were donated to private farms to persons or friends alleged to be politically connected. As many as 150 buffalo, 50 rhino, and 50 sable antelope from the provincial parks were donated in the second half of 2015.
The committee also inquired whether the department had donated similar high-value wildlife species in the past and who the recipients were, including details of the species available in the various parks prior and after the donation.
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