Agriculture
ARD refutes claims that MEC is in contempt of Legislature─── SABRINA DEAN 14:58 Mon, 06 Jul 2015
Bloemfontein - The Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) says it is not true that it failed to respond to questions in the legislature regarding the Vrede Dairy Project.
This in reaction to claims by the Democratic Alliance that MEC Mosebenzi Zwane is in contempt of a ruling by legislature speaker Mamiki Qabathe.
According to Provincial DA leader Roy Jankielsohn, Zwane was unwilling to reply to questions during a sitting on 17 June about the cancellation of the contract with Estina, among other issues. Jankielsohn says the Speaker instructed Zwane in a formal ruling to reply by Monday, 22 June 2015.
He says no replies had been received by last week and the party has taken the matter further through a letter addressed to the Speaker.
The department meanwhile says the MEC has already responded, both orally and via a written reply, adding there has been no query from legislature regarding the matter.
According to Jankielsohn, Estina was the private sector partner in this project and he claims the Department has already paid R173-million to the company.
Sabrina Dean/OFM News
