DA to intensify monitoring of GBV cases in Upington
| by Ofentse Mokae, MPL – DA Northern Cape Provincial Spokesperson on Sport, Arts & Culture Date: 31 January 2020Release: Immediate The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape is calling on the MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Bernice Sinxeve, to include a lifestyle audit in her plans to address the serious charges of maladministration against her Head of Department (HOD), Ruth Palm.This comes after a damning report by the Public Protector revealed that, in 2016, Palm requested the Northern Cape Arts and Culture Council (NCACC) to transfer R1 million to “Traffic Events” towards organizing the Umsobomvu Youth Tourism and Cultural Festival. The festival, however, never took place.In 2012, when Palm was still employed as Chief Director for the Department of Roads and Public Works, she was accused, along with other officials, of defrauding the department of more than R47 million, by awarding security tenders to Karibuni Security Services. The charges were eventually withdrawn after the matter was settled out of court but a dark cloud has continued to shroud her integrity.In the latest case investigated by the Public Protector, the funds were paid directly to Traffic Events on 24 December 2016, just a day before Christmas. This is undoubtedly very suspicious and creates aspersions about Palm’s intentions.Given that this is not the first time that Palm has been fingered in serious corruption-related charges, the DA deems it appropriate to scrutinize Palm’s finances.Aside from a lifestyle audit, we further call on Sinxeve to confide in the legislature portfolio committee for Sport, Arts and Culture in terms of the actions she intends taking against Palm and the NCACC.At the same time, we reiterate our call to have the NCACC regularly report to the portfolio committee, alongside the department. In this regard, we will also send a formal request to the Portfolio Committee Chairperson, David Dichaba, to assist in making this happen.We cannot tolerate a situation whereby state funds remain unaccounted for and we will not allow fraudsters to steal state-owned resources without being held liable for their actions. Media Enquiries Ofentse Mokae, MPLDA Northern Cape Provincial Spokesperson on Sport, Arts & Culture076 108 3264 Chrystal LimburghResearcher079 2260 991 |
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