The Northern Cape's Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the HAWKS' arrest of three current and former senior officials from the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture yesterday morning. The officials face charges of violating the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), fraud, and money laundering. The case concerns the irregular payment of R1.6 million made to the Traffic Events Company in 2016 for the Umsombomvu Youth Festival in Colesberg, which never occurred. In this regard, the DA urged Premier Dr Zamani Saul last year to report corruption within this department to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), and we are pleased that these arrests have finally been made. The party says it is past time to hold shady senior officials accountable for wasteful and fruitless payments within departments. The DA says it will continue to closely monitor the court appearances in this case, and are confident that the law will be followed, and public funds will be recovered.

Journalist: Asathaba Grootboom
Email: asathabagrootboom2018@gmail.com