Minister Zulu must explain GBVF scandal to Parliament

12 December 2023

As soon as Parliament opens next year, the DA will request that Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu and her acting director-general Linton Mchunu account to the parliamentary portfolio committee on social development regarding their role in failing to distribute R100 million from the criminal assets recovery account (CARA) to programmes for survivors of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).

The National Development Agency (NDA) allegedly distributed the R100 million, which was meant to specifically assist GBVF victims, to civil society organisations (CSOs) that should never have qualified for this funding.

The DA will also request that the NDA account to Parliament for its failure in due diligence, as well as its failure to identify relevant CSOs.

CityPress’ expose follows on the heels of the collapse of the Gender-Based Violence Command Centre (GBVCC) due Minister Zulu’s bungling of the service provider contract, leaving thousands of GBV victims without a lifeline.

Minister Zulu’s head must roll. The Department of Social Development has seen nothing but decline in her tenure as Minister.

Issued by Bridget Masango, DA Shadow Minister of Social Development, 12 December 2023