Ministry Spokesperson, Khaye Nkwanyana, has accused me in the media of obsessing over the National Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), claiming that the Western Cape Provincial Parliament has no capacity to question the severe corruption, maladministration, and incompetence that our province is forced to endure, under this blundering Department. Mr Nkwanyana is incorrect in thinking that the actions of DAFF have no impact on the economy of the Western Cape, but he is quite correct in stating that I am ‘obsessed’ with the Department, so let me tell you why.
According to a report released last month by the Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network (TRAFFIC), 96 million individual abalone have been poached from the Western Cape’s oceans since 2006, 90% of which are destined for Hong Kong. The report further states that 43% of the illegal harvest is exported through various sub-Saharan nations, involving a cartel of organised crimes syndicates in bed with the Chinese. Now let me ask you, when was the last time anyone in South Africa could order abalone in any one of our restaurants, while approximately 2174 tonnes of the marine snail are illegally shipped to the East every year at a cost of R628 million?
Many implicated in these crimes, particularly the divers who are poaching, are former small-scale fishermen who are continually denied access to our waters because DAFF cannot effectively allocate them a fishing quota. The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ failure to empower the Western Cape’s fishermen and women, coupled with its inability to sustainably manage our endangered marine resources, has single-handedly led to the abalone poaching crisis in our province.
Of those ‘obsessed’ are organisations such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), who thankfully won a case against the department just last week, with DAFF failing to adhere to scientific recommendations relating to the Total Allowable Catch of West Coast Rock Lobster. The internal charge sheet against DAFF’s Deputy Director-General, Ms Siphokazi Ndudane, which the Department publicly claims is false, was submitted as part of the WWF’s case in an affidavit and made reference to by the Western Cape High Court. Mr Nkwanyana strangely though, continues to make public claims that the charge sheet is false, when it forms part of the evidence in this ground-breaking case, and which was not refuted by DAFF during the proceedings. So how can it be a hoax?
The withdrawal of my statement around Ms Ndudane’s guilt was a factual retraction as she has not been found guilty in a court of law or disciplinary hearing for the allegations levelled against her in the internal charge sheet. This correction is made to accurately reflect the facts and to protect the legal proceedings of the Department, and rightfully protect the integrity of Ms Ndudane before the disciplinary process against her concludes. Thus, it was premature to state that she has been found guilty, when the disciplinary process is ongoing. As I respect the course of law, Ms Ndudane is no doubt innocent until proven guilty, and that is what my retraction stated.
I however have not retracted asking SAPS to investigate the alleged charges levelled against her at the Cape Town Police Station, and I have also received confirmation from the Public Protector as of 28 September 2018 that her office will now be investigating the Department. These two processes must run their course.