13th August 2008

The IFP is not surprised to see more turmoil in the KwaZulu Natal Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs, including the calls from the employees' organisations for the removal of MEC Mtholephi Mthimkhulu and the acting Head of Department Siddiq Adam. 

"The turn-around strategy Mthimkhulu promised for the beleaguered department when he became its political head has so far amounted to nothing more than a series of cosmetic alterations; hence the calls for his sacking from the departments' employees," said Leader of the Official Opposition in the KwaZulu Natal Provincial Parliament Dr Lionel Mtshali. 

The IFP maintains that a genuine turn-around strategy in the department would have to start with the publication of the forensic report into its mismanagement, fraud and corruption under the previous Head of Department Dr Jabulani Mjwara. 

"Unless we can assess the extent of the deluge left in one of the province's most important departments, no remedial action of substance and benefit to the people of KwaZulu Natal can take place," said Dr Mtshali.   

The IFP always suspected that Mthimkhulu's priority in his position as MEC for Agriculture has been to control the damage done by Dr Mjwara's conduct to the image of the ANC rather than to the taxpayers and the beneficiaries of the department. 

"The ruling party's refusal to publicise the forensic report has created a sense of lawlessness and encouraged further anarchy in the department's management. Since the previous misconduct has not been punished, no one has been discouraged from pursuing the old practices," said Dr Mtshali. 

The IFP views the allegations of flawed staff appointments and non-delivery in the department in the wider context of mismanagement in the local and provincial government institutions in KwaZulu Natal under the ANC's control due to factionalism and infighting.    

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dr Lionel Mtshali, 083 256 4902