Resources How to Tender Tender Articles Tender Sectors Tender News

Minister: Fishing firm trying to destroy me

Under-fire Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Tina Joemat-Pettersson has accused an unnamed fishing company of plotting to “destroy” her and threatening her children. The Sunday Times said on Sunday that details from the public protector’s report on the controversial R800 million fisheries patrol fleet management contract showed the minister had wasted taxpayers’ money and tried to interfere in an investigation into her department. In an interview posted on YouTube, Joemat-Pettersson accuses an unnamed fishing company of instituting a “beautifully orchestrated” smear campaign when she tried to blow the whistle on massive corruption and theft in the fisheries department. The Sunday Times said the public protector’s provisional report recommended that disciplinary action be taken against Joemat-Pettersson.

The report, titled “My Way or No Sea Patrols”, looked into the awarding of the R800m contract to Sekunjalo Marine Services Consortium. The contract is to manage the department’s fleet of research and patrol ships. In the 23-minute interview, Joemat-Pettersson speaks about how she found herself in a “very peculiar situation” when she tried to uncover corruption in her department. “I started investigating broad theft and corruption in the fisheries unit of my department and the more I said there’s corruption, the more the media tried to portray me as corrupt. “This fishing company made it clear that they’re going to destroy me. They made it in no uncertain terms; they made it clear that they will destroy me.”

Asked if the company made physical threats, Joemat-Pettersson said “yes, and to my children”. “They first tried to bribe me and then they threatened me. “When they couldn’t get that right, they then started a beautifully orchestrated smear campaign.” Joemat-Pettersson said when she started investigating a particular company “all hell broke lose”. “This is when I realised that you are expected to be the corrupt one, you’re not expected to be the whistle-blower. So if you’re an ANC politician, the stereotype of who is corrupt fits the ANC politician.” The minister’s spokeswoman, Palesa Mokomele, would not comment on the death threats and could not name the fishing company. Asked about the findings in the public protector’s provisional report, Mokomele said “ministers don’t give tenders”. “We must first study the report when it comes out,” she said.

Source: www.iol.co.za

BACK TO NEWS

Minister: Fishing firm trying to destroy me

Latest News