The removal of Land Bank chairperson Themba Langa from office strongly reinforces the perception that government is determined to sweep the extent of the rot in the bank under the carpet, said DA spokesperson and former minister of agriculture Kraai van Niekerk.
Van Niekerk believes agriculture minister Lulama Xingwana is behind the decision to remove Langa, who is said to have been working diligently to turn the bank around in the wake of recent scandals. He said Xingwana seems determined to meddle in Land Bank affairs. “Her eagerness to micro-manage the situation only serves to undermine the implementation of a turnaround strategy at the bank,” he said.
“Her decision to squash the findings of forensic audits in particular continues to impede efforts to rehabilitate the bank. It remains highly irregular that the entire investigation into the pilferage of R2 billion is left to the minister herself.” Xingwana claimed Langa’s removal follows his unilateral decisions and his disregard of collective decisions of the board. Van Niekerk said that sounds like criticism of his refusal to countenance her constant interference in the management of the bank.
“We will actively pursue this matter at the next portfolio committee meeting,” he concluded. “We reiterate our call to make public the details of the three forensic audits into the bank’s financial management.” – Annelie Coleman
