Hon Chairperson, the DA is shocked and dismayed that the fraud and corruption identified at the Land Bank has not yet been resolved. This follows media reports of corrupt government officials appropriating almost R100 million intended to benefit the poor in order to improve their living standards.
Allegations reported this week in the Sunday Times about fraud in the Agricultural Black Economic Empowerment Fund are not at all new. Shocking as they are, most have been in the public domain for some time now.
Apart from this alleged fraud, there are also other allegations of fraud and mismanagement which have been investigated and reported on. Forensic reports have been handed to investigating authorities such as the police, the Scorpions, the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority. Some of the reports have enough evidence to build charges of corruption against numerous individuals, but nothing has happened. Some cases date as far back as 2006 and 2007. The longer the fraud and corruption identified in the Land Bank drags on without resolution, the more it would appear that the people responsible for this greed are being protected from prosecution.
In his state of the nation address, the President made a commitment to the South African public to root out the pervasive corruption that has taken over the South African conscience. We have also just had Minister Gordhan again make a statement about this. Thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]