05 February 2008

The IFP welcomes KwaZulu Natal MEC for Agriculture and Environmental Affairs Mtholephi Mthimkhulu’s open admission of ensuing chaos in the administration and a complete breakdown in communication within the department. 

The Agriculture parliamentary portfolio committee, where the IFP is represented by the Chief Whip of the Official Opposition, Henry Combrinck, today witnessed an extraordinary exchange between the MEC, the Head of Department and members of the department’s top management. 

“When confronted by the portfolio committee about some outstanding issues from last year’s finance portfolio committee resolutions, the HOD accused the top management of failing to report to him. The MEC subsequently admitted to a complete breakdown of communication within the department,” said Combrinck. 

The IFP is astonished by this turn of events, particularly in the light of the MEC’s mandate for a turn-around strategy in the department following the forensic report into the past instances of fraud, corruption and mismanagement. “As far as our capacity for parliamentary oversight is concerned, neither the new MEC nor the new HOD has brought any change into the Department of Agriculture since the dark days of former HOD Dr Jabulani Mjwara,” said Combrinck. 

Contact: Henry Combrinck, 082 576 7255