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Durban – Amid suggestions that some board members of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife were more anxious to collect their stipends than to fulfil fiduciary duties, the board of the provincial conservation agency has been sharply rebuked for failing to attend a budget planning meeting in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday.
Themba Mthembu (ANC), chairperson of the provincial parliament’s agriculture portfolio committee, said the board had been unstable for years and there was a danger of “another SAA or SABC situation” if its current status was not resolved speedily.
Speaking at a joint sitting of the agriculture and environmental affairs portfolio committee meeting, Mthembu said the board (not its chief executive, Bandile Mkhize) was accountable to Parliament and he was dismayed no board members were at an important meeting to discuss the conservation agency’s budget allocation.
Omie Singh (ANC), chairman of the conservation portfolio committee, said it appeared board members had more pressing commitments than the portfolio committee.
If this was the case, certain board members should make way for others who had time to serve.
“Or do they just want a position on the board? It is nice to get the stipend – but let’s hope there are not other, more important business commitments. This is public money and they are accountable,” he said.
On Tuesday night, Comfort Ngidi, the chairperson of the board, said he and the board had not realised they were expected at the meeting.
“We attend meetings by invitation and we were not invited,” he said. “I would like to extend my apologies for this misunderstanding. I have great respect for the provincial parliament and certainly do not want to undermine the work it does,” he said.
Agriculture and Environment MEC Meshack Radebe said he was also concerned about “the behaviour of Ezemvelo”.
He was concerned the new board, with several members appointed two months ago, were not at the meeting. He had the legal power to take over the board’s affairs if members were not performing their duties, and he would send a formal letter to the board demanding responses to concerns raised.
Radebe said he saw no purpose in Ezemvelo officials attending in the absence of board members or the Ezemvelo chief executive. Unless the board was present, Ezemvelo staff should leave the meeting.
Singh confirmed Mkhize had called him to excuse himself as he was at a meeting in Pretoria on the rhino poaching crisis.
Tom Stokes (DA) said he was concerned about Mkhize’s absence and he should be told in writing he required permission to be absent.
“It’s no good to just cancel on the morning of the meeting. This is a shareholders meeting and people responsible for the funds must be accountable.
Bonga Mdletshe (IFP) called for a separate meeting, saying, “We are much more concerned about the performance of the new board”.
Themba Mthembu (ANC) said: “Ezemvelo has not been receiving good reports for the past few years… I don’t think we are doing justice to this issue.” – The Mercury
