Thank you, Chair. Minister, I want to know if you can perhaps tell us how many officials or inspectors are being investigated or have been arrested as a result of these investigations that you have lodged ... that might have failed to act in the prevention of abalone poaching or might have been complicit in these illegal activities.
The MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Thank you, hon
member. I don't think it's a secret that the branch of Fisheries
that we are inheriting as the Department of Environment has not been a well- run branch. There are several officials who are facing disciplinary charges for a range of, can I call them, illicit activities. Some of those officials are currently in disciplinary proceedings.
Where it comes to light that other officials that are supposed to be monitoring and acting as referees have in fact become players for the other team, we will take action just as we have taken action against those whom we currently have evidence against.
Sepedi: