By Staff Reporter

The investigation into the procurement processes at the department of Fisheries’ fleet division has indefinitely been put on hold.

The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) said it had lost faith in Ernest & Young, the company which did an investigation on the appointment of the vessel and crew management company, Smit Amandla Marine (SAM). DAFF claims there were differences in the forensic report handed to the acting director general, Sipho Ntombela and the minister, Tina Joemat-Pettersson and one that found its way to the Democratic Alliance.

DAFF accused Ernest & Young of leaking the report to the DA. “DAFF would like to articulate its shock and disappointment to the leaking of a confidential forensic report that found its way into the hands of the DA. More gravely is the fact that the leaked report is different from what was presented to the DG and the minister,” DAFF’s spokesperson, Steve Galane said in a statement. Fathima Naidoo, handling Ernst & Young’s media relations said the company was engaging with DAFF and will comment further if appropriate to do so.