CAPE TOWN – Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Willie Aucamp has filed a formal complaint with the Public Protector, alleging that his predecessor Dr Dion George abused state resources to conduct what he claims was a baseless investigation into his private business affairs.
The complaint, submitted yesterday, 28 December, targets George and two of his former staff members – advisor and acting chief of staff Shelton Mollentze and personal assistant Traverse le Goff – for the alleged misuse of government resources for personal or political purposes.
According to Aucamp, he became aware of the investigation after assuming office, describing it as “potentially politically motivated” and designed to “falsely link him to the lion breeding industry” – a sector he says he has no association with.
The complaint suggests the investigation was conducted using state resources while George was still in office, though specific details about the nature and scope of the probe have not been disclosed.
“I will not shy away from my duty as Minister and will act against anyone in my department who has been alleged, on a prima facie basis, to have misused state resources, irrespective of what position such individuals hold or have held in the past,” Aucamp said in a statement.
The minister said that the use of state resources for personal or political purposes is unlawful and that the Public Protector’s investigation will determine whether any abuse occurred.
The complaint comes amid what Aucamp referenced as “recent media reports,” though he has not provided additional details about the specific coverage that may have prompted his action.
The lion breeding industry has been a contentious political issue in South Africa, with various ministers and officials facing scrutiny over their connections to the sector amid ongoing debates about conservation and animal welfare policies.
