Salvaging KZN Agri’s fiasco

The MEC for Agriculture and Environmental Affairs in KZN Mtholephi Mthimkhulu has called in the assistance of the Provincial Treasury and Department of Public Service and Administration to help rescue his beleaguered department from the effects of alleged corruption and mismanagement that have plagued it under the reins of Dr Jabulani Mjwara, head of department. In an official press release, Mthimkhulu said that alongside consultations held with the KZN premier S’bu Ndebele on the state of the KZN agriculture department, the assisting state organs would help to implement a number of “change actions”. This would be part of the process of ensuring that the department functioned in an efficient manner, while also addressing the problems identified during an internal investigation recently conducted in response to allegations. Allegations that have been levelled by opposition parties at the affairs of Mthimkhulu’s department have included the awarding of dubious tenders, the dispensing of unreasonable subsidies, the bestowing of generous political favours, and the irregular suspension of senior departmental staff – purportedly all sanctioned by Mjwara. A financial audit of the KZN agriculture department found that it had also overspent its budget by R100 million in the 2006/07 financial year. Mjwara was also accused of running the KZN agriculture department as his own personal fiefdom.
Following the results of the audit and the numerous allegations, Mthimkhulu announced that Mjwara and his chief financial officer Petrus Mahlangu would soon face disciplinary hearings. Mahlangu has since resigned from his post, and would therefore not be subject to any internal hearings or discipline if found guilty of departmental mismanagement.
“There is a parallel process of a forensic investigation of the department’s affairs currently under way. Whatever the outcome of this probe, if there is strong evidence that Mahlangu has to answer certain questions in relation to the findings of the forensic investigation, then commensurate action in accordance with applicable laws of the land will be followed. In the case of the forensic investigation this would mean that criminal charges would be laid against any wrongdoers,” said Mthimkhulu’s spokesperson Mbulelo Baloyi. Meanwhile, while Mjwara continued to hold his position Mthimkhulu’s rescue attempts would include having the Provincial
Treasury second some of its staff to perform various key internal requirements of the KZN agriculture department, and also assisting in implementing appropriate financial management systems and compliance with financial policies.
“The Department of Public Service and Administration will be reviewing my department’s management system and environment with a view to strengthening it,” Mthimkhulu added. The MEC explained that Mjwara had since requested a leave of absence to enable him to “focus on the pending disciplinary hearing”. – Lloyd Phillips