ActionSA welcomes MEC Vuyiswa Ramokgopa’s call to launch an internal investigation into the R36 million Farmyard project, which was aimed at establishing 16 container stores in Gauteng townships.
This fresh produce project was earmarked for township economic revitalisation and food security in the province. ActionSA is deeply concerned about the gross abuse of public funds, with each container costing an average of R1.75 million, exorbitantly higher than market pricing. The MEC’s immediate action is indicative of a public servant who wants to ensure that such blatant abuse of taxpayers’ money is ended.
In a province where the township economy has been taken over by foreign nationals- many of whom are undocumented- and with 67% of its population unable to spend enough on nutritious food, the Farmyard Project would have been a catalyst to the much-needed impetus to reclaim the township economy for South Africans as well as to ensuring that more Gauteng residents have access to nutritious food.
Key Concerns:
– Project Monitoring: A project this size should have had a system in place to monitor its progress and deliverables throughout its tenure.
– Lack of Accountability: The fact that the department’s Accounting Officer failed to report any irregularities to the MEC or initiate an investigation shows blatant disregard and/ or incomprehension of their responsibilities as per S38 of the PFMA.
– Service Providers’ Competence: With the project still in limbo six months after launch, it raises serious questions about the capability of the appointed service providers to execute their responsibilities and whether the prescripts of the PFMA were followed prior to their appointment.
– Exorbitant Costs: The average cost per container is obscene and warrants a thorough investigation.
– Abuse of Public Funds: This incident highlights the endemic issue of public fund abuse within government and the public sector exacerbated by political patronage.
ActionSA demands:
– Full Disclosure: A comprehensive report on the processes followed to appoint the service providers, project’s expenditures, current operational status and beneficiaries should be made public immediately after the internal investigations are completed
– Accountability: Those responsible for the irregularities must be immediately suspended and face disciplinary action and, where feasible, criminal charges.
– Systematic Reforms: Implementation of stringent internal measures to prevent similar abuses in the future as well as to be able to detect such abuses while the project is still in progress.
While we commend MEC Ramokgopa’s call, we implore her to ensure zero tolerance for public funds abuse and look forward to a thorough investigation and tangible actions that will send a strong message to those who use taxpayers’ money as their laager of enrichment. The Farmyard project should not be allowed to become another failed project where third-party NGOs with questionable credentials are appointed and paid large amounts by departments, only to find intended beneficiaries being left high and dry.
The people of Gauteng deserve nothing less. ActionSA remains resolute in its commitment to ethical leadership and the rule of law; and we will always put the residents’ interests above everything else.
ActionSA Welcomes Probe into Farmyard Project, Calls for Accountability and Tighter Control Measures on the Use of Public Funds
ActionSA welcomes MEC Vuyiswa Ramokgopa’s call to launch an internal investigation into the R36 million Farmyard project, which was aimed at establishing 16 container stores in Gauteng townships.
This fresh produce project was earmarked for township economic revitalisation and food security in the province. ActionSA is deeply concerned about the gross abuse of public funds, with each container costing an average of R1.75 million, exorbitantly higher than market pricing. The MEC’s immediate action is indicative of a public servant who wants to ensure that such blatant abuse of taxpayers’ money is ended.
In a province where the township economy has been taken over by foreign nationals- many of whom are undocumented- and with 67% of its population unable to spend enough on nutritious food, the Farmyard Project would have been a catalyst to the much-needed impetus to reclaim the township economy for South Africans as well as to ensuring that more Gauteng residents have access to nutritious food.
Key Concerns:
– Project Monitoring: A project this size should have had a system in place to monitor its progress and deliverables throughout its tenure.
– Lack of Accountability: The fact that the department’s Accounting Officer failed to report any irregularities to the MEC or initiate an investigation shows blatant disregard and/ or incomprehension of their responsibilities as per S38 of the PFMA.
– Service Providers’ Competence: With the project still in limbo six months after launch, it raises serious questions about the capability of the appointed service providers to execute their responsibilities and whether the prescripts of the PFMA were followed prior to their appointment.
– Exorbitant Costs: The average cost per container is obscene and warrants a thorough investigation.
– Abuse of Public Funds: This incident highlights the endemic issue of public fund abuse within government and the public sector exacerbated by political patronage.
ActionSA demands:
– Full Disclosure: A comprehensive report on the processes followed to appoint the service providers, project’s expenditures, current operational status and beneficiaries should be made public immediately after the internal investigations are completed
– Accountability: Those responsible for the irregularities must be immediately suspended and face disciplinary action and, where feasible, criminal charges.
– Systematic Reforms: Implementation of stringent internal measures to prevent similar abuses in the future as well as to be able to detect such abuses while the project is still in progress.
While we commend MEC Ramokgopa’s call, we implore her to ensure zero tolerance for public funds abuse and look forward to a thorough investigation and tangible actions that will send a strong message to those who use taxpayers’ money as their laager of enrichment. The Farmyard project should not be allowed to become another failed project where third-party NGOs with questionable credentials are appointed and paid large amounts by departments, only to find intended beneficiaries being left high and dry.
The people of Gauteng deserve nothing less. ActionSA remains resolute in its commitment to ethical leadership and the rule of law; and we will always put the residents’ interests above everything else.