Millions for drought-hit KZN farmers go missing
Amid allegations of corruption, MEC says co-operative governance department has launched search for money
About R220m meant for drought-stricken farmers in KwaZulu-Natal has gone missing and farmers and opposition parties are calling for heads to roll. Four years ago, the government gave the money to the province for drought relief after it was declared a disaster area due to a crippling drought. Co-operative governance and traditional affairs MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube said it was not clear where the money went, but her department had launched an investigation to trace it. Sandy La Marque, head of the KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union (Kwanalu), said it was alleged the money was paid to government-connected individuals. She said Kwanalu did not have a list of beneficiaries. “However, most of our members reported that no assistance was received by bona fide farmers. Reports of individuals, officials [and] organisations who misappropriated the funding and fodder were raised extensively by farmers. “In some cases, farmers were told they had to join the organisation [distributing the grants] to ...
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