While battling to keep the dogs in Cape Town at bay, the Democratic Alliance (DA) directed attention to Limpopo Economic Development Agency’s (Leda) stake in the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (SEZ) project on Friday. The party converged on the parastatal in Polokwane with a memorandum containing seven crucial questions that was handed over by party leader Mmusi Maimane.
Amid construction work continuing on a city block, DA supporters converged on the side walk opposite Leda’s offices in Schoeman Street to listen to addresses by Maimane as well as the party’s provincial leader, Jacques Smalle and the party’s Team One South Africa spokesperson on youth and DA Federal Youth Leader, Luyolo Mphithi.
In a media advisory issued beforehand they referred to the project being marred by secrecy, with red flags pointing to alleged nepotism and collusion.
Smalle: “Leaders obsessed with self-enrichment”
In his speech Smalle warned about people having been exposed to leaders who were obsessed with self-enrichment and a lack of capacity to the detriment of the majority for far too long. He described it shocking and suspicious that the Department of Trade and Industry had entrusted Leda with a 51% stake in the project and an initial budget of R1,2 billion for the SEZ project, an entity he claimed had R135 million in flagged expenditure by the Auditor-General. According to him it was reason for alarm.
Smalle further pointed out that the SEZ project had the potential to take development to the Vhembe area, where 42 000 people did not have access to electricity and 72 000 people no access to any kind of sanitation or ablution facilities. According to Smalle, Leda had a track record of mismanaging funds, poor financial controls and lacking effective project management.
He stressed that the SEZ had to become a reality but had to be implemented in a transparent and efficient manner focused on maximised local beneficiation for all South Africans. “Entrusting this project to Leda will rob our people of opportunities, jobs and economic growth that will uplift us as a province and build towards one South Africa.”
Smalle joined Maimane as he handed over the memorandum to Leda Administration Manager Sunnyboy Mphidi, who was informed that Leda was given two weeks to respond to the issues raised.
Maimane: “Why invest in secret?”
In his address Maimane said when SEZs were being created, it wasn’t done for the people but for politicians, hence they should rather be dubbed special political zones because they were not being set up for the people, for prosperity or for jobs but for allegedly corrupt politicians.
Maimane emphasised that he didn’t shy away from fighting corruption anywhere. When people were caught stealing but stood up and said they were being prosecuted because they were black, they were insulting black people, he vehemently remarked. “If you have been caught to be stealing you have been caught not because of the colour of your skin, but because you are corrupt,” he said to cheering from fellow-democrats.
Turning to Musina-Makhado SEZ project concerns, he said China had to invest in South Africa but if they did so everyone had to know the terms and conditions. “Why invest in secret? Invest publicly. Corruption should never be hidden, Democrats. It should never be hidden. We must know it. We must know what are the conditions so that we don’t end up in a corrupt state.”
On a united South Africa he went on to say he believed there should only be one race, the human race. “All of us, united in our diversity, building one South Africa for all. Amandla!”
Leda response
When contacted for comment, Leda spokesperson Leo Gama said at this stage they were unable to respond. Gama explained that the organisation was still engaging various stakeholders on the issue. He concluded saying Leda would respond at any appropriate time.
Story & photos: YOLANDE NEL
>>observer.yolande@gmail.com
