It is shocking that dishonest officials are stealing the money meant to help farmers who are in dire need due to damage caused by storms and floods.
The FF Plus in Limpopo is, therefore, demanding answers in an official letter to Limpopo's MEC for Agriculture, Mr Thabo Mokone, about the alleged complot between three of his Department's senior officials and four small-scale farmers to steal R2 million during the floods of 2013.
According to a statement issued by the Hawks on Monday (30 January), forged invoices were submitted at the time to compensate the farmers for supposed damages suffered during the severe floods in the Vhembe District.
The claims were reportedly paid out and shared with officials, according to investigative findings made by the Hawks' commercial crime unit in 2020.
Summonses were issued and all those implicated will appear before the Commercial Court in Polokwane (Pietersburg) on 2 March.
ANC officials clearly view disaster aid and other such funds as an open wallet to be looted – this was evident with the large-scale fraud committed with the Covid-19 disaster relief fund.
This trend must be stopped, so the FF Plus would like to see that the heaviest possible penalties are imposed on the accused if they are found guilty.
;
