The board of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has been suspended and a forensic investigation launched following allegations of financial irregularities.

This was brought to the attention of the Portfolio Committee on Conservation and Environmental Affairs on Tuesday (August 18) by the KwaZulu Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Nomusa Dube-Ncube.

“I have exercised my discretion to suspend all the current members of the KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Board (Ezemvelo), in accordance with the provisions of section 12 of the KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Management Act, 1997 (Act No. 9 of 1997) as a result of the prima facie allegations against the board as a collective,” she said.

She said she had also approached the MEC for Finance in KwaZulu Natal, Ravi Pillay, to institute a forensic investigation at Ezemvelo.

Dube-Ncube said the investigation would be conducted by an external entity to be appointed by Pillay.

While the investigation is ongoing, Ezemvelo Acting CEO, Ntsikelelo Dlulane, will act as the Accounting Authority for Ezemvelo.

The MEC said she had reacted swiftly after allegations of maladministration were published by various media houses, with her briefing KZN Premier, Sihle Zikalala and members of the Executive Council about the overall management of Ezemvelo and steps to be undertaken to turn around the situation.

“At this stage we wish not to cloud all processes focusing on instituting this forensic investigation at Ezemvelo with unnecessary comments in the media and other platforms,” Dube-Ncube emphasised.

Ezemvelo oversees the management of nature conservation within the province, managing more than 120 protected areas, and is the leader in sustainable biodiversity conservation. Its headquarters are at Queen Elizabeth Park in Pietermaritzburg.