Ezemvelo board probe yet to start after malfeasance allegations

THE investigation into allegations of malfeasance against the then board of directors of KwaZulu-Natal Ezemvelo Wildlife is yet to get off the ground, more than a year after it was initiated.

Members of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) were informed on Friday when Ezemvelo appeared before the committee that the allegations against the board that led to its suspension were yet to be investigated.

The board was suspended by the then MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Nomusa Dube-Ncube in August last year. A forensic investigation was instituted and is being handled at the Office of the Premier.

Some committee members said it seemed the board was suspended just to show that something had been done in the face of alleged irregularities.

Ezemvelo’s accounting officer, Simiso Magagula, said they were unable to give an account of the investigation which was conducted outside the entity.

“The investigation was taken over by the Office of the Premier, the forensic investigation unit is dealing with this matter,” he said.

Executive manager, internal audit at Ezemvelo, Kgomotsho Nkgabutle said the last time she checked with the Office of the Premier, they were informed that it was still to appoint a service provider.

The chairperson of the committee, Maggie Govender, said the committee should pursue the matter, saying it had started in 2020 and it was almost a year later and there had been no finality.

The Environmental Affairs Portfolio Committee was told during a briefing in August last year that the board had been suspended after allegations of maladministration which implicated all the members.

“After allegations of maladministration were published by various media houses, I assured the people of this province of my commitment towards transparency and accountability,” Dube-Ncube said at the time.

Scopa committee member of the IFP, Lourens de Klerk said yesterday that the fact that the investigation had not started was an indication that there was no intention to do anything.

“The problem is that people think by changing the board, things will change,” he said.

Environmental Affairs Committee member of the DA, Heinz de Boer, said it was concerning as the MEC had been very quick to suspend the board members and did so without consultation with the environmental affairs committee.

“There must have been some kind of evidence that the MEC had, potentially against some of the board members. Everyone has been tarred with the same brush. It’s highly disappointing that the investigation has not started,” said De Boer.