Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson said some department officials were implicated by findings from the preliminary investigation into corruption in the department.
Corruption practices were linked to the allocation of quotas, transfer of rights and preferential treatment given to certain businesses, Joemat-Pettersson said. She was unable to disclose the name of the auditing company; but insiders said the investigation would be led by Ernst & Young.
The minister congratulated community members and DAFF officials who had helped expose poaching activities, and encouraged South Africans who had information around poaching to inform the authorities. Following increased surveillance by police and other officials last week, over 30,436 units of abalone were seized, leading to seven arrests in five different incidences of illegal poaching. Two arrests were made in Riviersonderend last week and 3,806 units of abalone were confiscated, FIS reports.
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