Question NW1031 to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Ketabahle, Ms V to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

With reference to his reply to question 265 on 9 March 2018, wherein he indicated that part of the responsibilities of the Amathole Forestry Company is to ensure that they use the leased land only for forestry purposes and that they cannot make alterations to the land without prior approval by his department, has he been informed that the company is undertaking massive excavations at the Zingcuka Forestry, destroying a rare indigenous forest; if not, he will institute an independent investigation to ascertain the facts and bring to book all those responsible for this destruction of the indigenous forest; if so • Was the company given any permission by his department to conduct the massive excavations; if so, what (a) are the names of the officials of his department who gave such permission and (b) what was the basis for granting such permission.