IFP: Statement by Blessed Gwala, Inkatha Freedom Party Leader in the KwaZulu Natal Legislature, demands progress report into investigation of KZN Treasury (23/09/2014)

23rd September 2014

IFP: Statement by Blessed Gwala, Inkatha Freedom Party Leader in the KwaZulu Natal Legislature, demands progress report into investigation of KZN Treasury (23/09/2014)

Photo by: Tiffany Turkington/Flickr

Noting that in July 2014 President Zuma called for the SIU to conduct an
investigation into irregularities at the KZN Treasury, the IFP in KZN is
concerned about the lack of transparency and feedback on progress on this
matter.

"The call by President Zuma was prompted by serious issues surrounding the
spending of tax payer’s money on projects like the International North Sea
Jazz Festival, Commemorating Prisoners of War – St Helena event and the
KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board. Millions of rands were paid to the organisers
but the project never took place and money was not recovered,” said IFP
Leader in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, Mr Blessed Gwala, MPL.

“This together with other projects were considered serious enough for the
President to institute this investigation but almost two months later we
have not heard a whisper from the Premier of the province about progress in
this matter," said Mr Gwala.

"The IFP is concerned about the silence on such a serious matter where
millions rands of tax payer’s money is unaccounted for but the provincial
government remains silent. We would like to know who is being protected
here. It is clear that a veil of secrecy has been draped over this matter
but we will not rest until the facts have been revealed and all questions
have been answered," continued Mr Gwala.

"We urged the Premier, Senzo Mchunu, not to wait for the national president
to identify cases of suspicious expenditure but rather to identify and
investigate these at provincial level. The outcomes of the investigations
must be made public," concluded Mr Gwala.

Issued by IFP