Marine and Coastal Management (MCM) is one of South Africa’s
most important environmental agencies. It’s responsible for
protecting and conserving billions of rand worth of fish
stocks and other marine resources.
Should it fail, many related industries would be affected,
with disastrous consequences.
But
MCM has run out of money. Many of its most important
functions like anti-poaching enforcement and oil-spill
readiness have been severely affected.
Special Assignment
has managed to acquire several internal memos. They
paint a grim picture: the department is practically on life
support while top managers await a hand-out from Treasury.
They have slashed budgets and are unable even to pay their
telephone and electricity bills, yet the official line is
that it’s all simply a minor “cash flow problem”.
This
view is not shared by Scopa, parliament’s financial
oversight committee. At a recent meeting MCM came in for a
tongue lashing. Members said it had a “most miserable
record”, that its books are in disarray and that proper
controls are not in place.
This Tuesday, Special Assignment investigates the apparent
meltdown of an organisation that is crucial for the
environmental well-being of our coastal areas – and the
people who live there.
