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Congress of the People (COPE) is extremely worried about the management
of the Rolfontein Nature Reserve Project in the Northern Cape, an
Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) which is funded by the Department
of Water and Environmental Affairs.

The R38-million project, which was launched in May 2011, seems to have
been created by the ANC government on the eve of the 2011 Local
Government Elections to buy voter support and benefit the ANC.

The Minister, Ms. Edna Molewa in a written reply to a COPE
Parliamentary Question indicated that “the project has a total budget
of R38, 202, 016 for its planning and implementation. This amount covers
the costs for planning fees, training, administration, materials and
equipment, transport, wages, marketing, community facilitation and other
costs.”

However, there appears to be a lot of discrepancies in terms of the
cost of certain services (see budget breakdown on table attached). They
include the following;

● Construction of main entrance road (1km) at a cost of R6, 854,
084
● Solar electrical installations at family fishing lodge and
campsite at a cost of R4, 199, 353
● Construction of family fishing lodges at a cost of R11, 163,
216

We strongly believe these exorbitant prices must be questioned as they
raise eyebrows and the legitimacy of the project.

We are adamant that with a R6 million (1km) road, the Rolfontein Nature
Reverse Road must be the most expensive road in the country. Spending
R4-million to install solar systems in a fishing lodge also raises a lot
of suspicions.

We believe that using the notion of job creations through the EPWP
programme, the ANC-led government has managed to hoodwink locals ahead
of the 2011 Local Government Elections.

Such projects are often characterised by corruption and mismanagement
and demonstrates the ANC willingness to take voters for granted in
projects which benefits their cadres.
 
COPE MP, from the Northern Cape, Hon. Kennett Sinclair, will request
the Department of Environmental Affairs to brief him in his capacity as
MP and as part of his oversight work.