President Cyril Ramaphosa recently removed Dr Dion George as the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, appointing Willem Abraham Stephanus (Willie) Aucamp as his replacement. The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, has submitted a formal complaint to the Public Protector, requesting an investigation into possible abuse of state resources by former Minister Dion George and his former staff. The complaint names George’s former advisor and acting chief of staff, Shelton Mollentze, and the Minister’s then-personal assistant, Traverse le Goff.
In a statement issued by the department, it said that the complaint was lodged after Aucamp assumed office, during which he became aware of an investigation into his private business affairs. Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Willie Aucamp has lodged a complaint with the Public Protector over alleged misuse of state resources by former Minister Dion George and his staff. Aucamp said he felt the investigation appeared to be politically motivated and aimed at falsely linking him to the lion breeding industry, with which he has no association.
“I will not shy away from my duty as minister and will act against anyone in my department who has been alleged, on a prima facie basis, to have misused state resources, irrespective of what position such individuals hold or have held in the past,” Aucamp is quoted as saying in the statement. Days before Ramaphosa fired George, the Wildlife Animal Protection Forum of South Africa (WAPFSA) expressed deep concern over Aucamp’s appointment. In a statement,WAPFSA indicated that it wrote to Ramaphosa, urging him to reject Aucamp’s appointment.
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The organisation stated that it believed Aucamp’s private interests could influence the state’s decision-making to his own advantage, by shaping laws to benefit himself. “Willie Aucamp, is proudly, explicitly and publicly aligned with South Africa’s hunting and wildlife breeding, including genetically modifying species, specifically for trophy hunting. His family have interests in the hunting and breeding of wild animals for profit,” a statement issued by WAPFSA said at the time. Aucamp added that, “in my capacity as minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment”, he has “fulfilled my duty and submitted a comprehensive report to the Public Protector detailing all the information and evidence available to me”.
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