Who and what is AfriForum?

AfriForum is an Afrikaans civil rights organisation that protects the rights of minority groups at national as well as provincial level, and anyone who can identify with AfriForum’s principles and objectives may join the organisation. AfriForum’s community plan focuses on mobilising communities to thus take control of their own streets and neighbourhoods again. AfriForum ensures that your constitutional and civil rights are recognised and protected at national level.

Wie en wat is AfriForum?

AfriForum is ’n Afrikaanse burgerregteorganisasie wat die regte van minderheidsgroepe op sowel nasionale as provinsiale vlak beskerm, en enigiemand wat met AfriForum se beginsels en doelstellings kan identifiseer, mag by die organisasie aansluit. AfriForum se gemeenskapsplan fokus daarop om gemeenskappe te mobiliseer om só weer beheer terug te neem oor hul eie strate en woonbuurtes. AfriForum verseker dat jou grondwetlike én burgerregte op nasionale vlak erken en beskerm word.

Environmental affairs Media statements | Media statements

Minister’s silence on SANParks tender scandal speaks volumes, says AfriForum

ByAfriForum 10/06/202510/06/2025

Soundbite: Lambert de Klerk (English)

Klankgreep: Lambert de Klerk (Afrikaans)

AfriForum has noted with disappointment that Dr Dion George, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, has chosen to be silent about the tender corruption in its ranks rather than assume responsibility and launch an investigation into these fraudulent activities. Despite formally receiving and reading AfriForum’s urgent letter regarding South African National Parks’ (SANParks) billion-rand tender scandal, no response has been issued by his office.

“His silence speaks volumes,” says Lambert de Klerk, AfriForum’s Head of Environmental Affairs.

“The lack of feedback on this matter isn’t just an administrative failure, it’s a pattern. AfriForum has been requesting a meeting with the Minister for over a year to address urgent environmental governance failures, including the crisis of corruption, the collapse of infrastructure in national parks, and the concerning handling of mining applications near the Kruger National Park. Repeatedly we’ve been met with nothing but silence.”

AfriForum has previously called on the Minister to intervene and launch an investigation into SANParks’ procurement processes following a recent court judgment that declared a R1 billion IT contract awarded by the conservation authority unlawful, unconstitutional and grossly unfair. The court labelled SANParks’ conduct as disgraceful after it bent procurement standards to unlawfully award a massive contract to a certain company. Yet the Minister, whose Department oversees SANParks, has failed to even acknowledge the seriousness of the matter.

“We can only assume that the Minister is unbothered by corruption,” De Klerk says. “His absence in the SANParks case, his silence on the mining threat to the Kruger National Park, and his lack of engagement on issues affecting conservation suggest a dangerous unwillingness to lead.”

AfriForum views this failure to respond as an insult to the public, to conservation staff on the ground and to every citizen who cares about the protection of our natural heritage. When billions of rands are misused and oversight collapses, silence is not neutrality, it’s complicity.

AfriForum will intensify its campaign to hold SANParks and the Department accountable. The public deserves answers and action from those entrusted with the protection of South Africa’s national parks.