Johannesburg – AfriForum says it is disappointed that Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment Minister Dr. Dion George has not responded to its urgent letter about alleged tender corruption at the South African National Parks (SANParks).
In a statement made available to The Bulrushes, AfriForum said, “it has noted with disappointment that Dr. Dion George, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, has chosen to be silent about the tender corruption in its ranks rather than assume responsibility and launch an investigation into these fraudulent activities”.
AfriForum said despite formally receiving and reading its urgent letter regarding the South African National Parks (SANParks) billion rand tender scandal, no response has been issued by his office.
“His silence speaks volumes,” said Lambert de Klerk, AfriForum’s Head of Environmental Affairs.
“The lack of feedback on this matter isn’t just an administrative failure, it’s a pattern.
“AfriForum has been requesting a meeting with the minister for over a year to address urgent environmental governance failures, including the crisis of corruption, the collapse of infrastructure in national parks, and the concerning handling of mining applications near the Kruger National Park. Repeatedly we’ve been met with nothing but silence.”
AfriForum has previously called on the Minister to intervene and launch an investigation into SANParks’ procurement processes following a recent court judgment that declared a R1 billion IT contract awarded by the conservation authority unlawful, unconstitutional and grossly unfair.
The court labelled SANParks’ conduct as disgraceful after it bent procurement standards to unlawfully award a massive contract to a certain company.
Yet the Minister, whose Department oversees SANParks, has failed to even acknowledge the seriousness of the matter.
“We can only assume that the Minister is unbothered by corruption,” De Klerk said this week.
“His absence in the SANParks case, his silence on the mining threat to the Kruger National Park, and his lack of engagement on issues affecting conservation suggest a dangerous unwillingness to lead.”
AfriForum said it views the minister’s failure to respond as “an insult to the public, to conservation staff on the ground and to every citizen who cares about the protection of our natural heritage”.
AfriForum added: “When billions of rands are misused and oversight collapses, silence is not neutrality, it’s complicity.
“AfriForum will intensify its campaign to hold SANParks and the Department accountable.
“The public deserves answers and action from those entrusted with the protection of South Africa’s national parks.”
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