Newly appointed Forestry, Fisheries and Environment minister, Willem Aucamp, did not declare his interest in a transport business doing work with Sibanye Stillwater Platinum Mine in Rustenburg, North-West.

Source: X

Newly appointed Forestry, Fisheries and Environment minister, Willem Aucamp, did not declare his interest in a transport business doing work with Sibanye Stillwater Platinum Mine in Rustenburg, North-West.

Source: X

Sizwe sama Yende

More information that casts doubt on newly appointed Forestry, Fisheries and Environment minister Willem Aucamp to lead the portfolio has emerged – linking him to the mining transport business.

Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Aucamp to his GNU cabinet on Monday this week to replace his DA colleague, Dr Dion George, following DA leader and Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen’s request.

Aucamp’s appointment has triggered wildlife activists to voice their displeasure which stems from the new minister’s family’s interest in hunting and breeding of wild animals for profit and his overt alliance with organisations in the sector.

Now, concerned DA members have anonymously raised a concern about Aucamp’s conflict of interest to be environment minister because of doing business with the mining sector.

Mines are by law required to conduct environmental impact assessments, implement environmental management plans, and have rehabilitation plans after closure. All of these will require Aucamp to oversee, but according to the sources, he could be biased when called upon to act against mining companies.

City Press has obtained information indicating that Aucamp was general manager of EC Blaauw Transport (Pty) Ltd contracted to platinum mine Sibanye Stillwater in Rustenburg, North-West.

The company’s website is now under construction. Before then, Aucamp’s name and cellphone number appeared among the contact people. He was listed as general manager for Northern Cape and Free State. The EC Blaauw website was still active in August when the information was gathered.

The DA members claimed that they doubted that Aucamp would be an objective in minister in dealing with matters that may require him to act decisively against mining companies violating environmental laws and regulations.

Another major concern, the DA sources said, was that EC Blaauw Transport (Pty) Ltd does appear among the interests Aucamp declared in the parliament register of members’ interests.

City Press checked the register and saw that he declared interest in five companies where he has shares and another five where he is a director or partner and none of those are EC Blaauw Transport.

The register indicates that he is a director in two companies doing business in the mining sector. The type of business that Spectra Mining Solutions (Pty) Ltd and Aucwill Consulting (Pty) Ltd are doing as mentioned in the register are mining contracting and transport.

Aucamp did not respond to written questions sent directly to him via WhatsApp. Forestry, Fisheries and Environment spokesperson Thobile Zulu-Molobi said she could not get hold of him.  Steenhuisen did not respond questions e-mailed to him last week.

In an interview after his swearing-in, Aucamp condemned blanket accusations against game farmers and claimed that he understood the sensitivity of the portfolio he was taking over.

“A vast majority of game farmers, of which I am one, are adhering to all the legislations. So, it is not true to say that game farmers are breaking the law. They are not. They are contributing a huge amount to the wildlife heritage that we’ve got in this country and a lot of conservation efforts are done by game farmers,” he said.

“I understand the sensitivity of this portfolio and understand that there are people that do not want animals to be hunted, but we’ve got to look at the bigger picture. We’ve got to look at the economy. We’ve got to look at the R44 billion being brought by the industry per annum. People must adhere to the regulations. Anyone who breaks the law must face the consequences and I will make sure of that.”

The Wildlife Animal Protection Forum South Africa (WAPFSA) was adamant that Aucamp was an entirely inappropriate candidate for the post as his private interests could influence the state’s decision-making.

"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,” WAPFSA said.

The Forum said that what made Aucamp inappropriate was his alignment with this specific sector which vociferously supports the agriculturalisation of biodiversity.  

This sector, WAPFSA said, stood in stark conflict with South Africa’s environmental legislation, policies and  international Treaties.

"Moreover, given that his family will likely benefit commercially from decisions that benefit captive breeding and hunting it may constitute corruption. Services must be provided impartially; fairly; equitably and without bias,” WAPFSA added.