MEDIA STATEMENT

Attention: News Editors
The ID’s Simon Grindrod, Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee member for Economic Development and Tourism, is calling on National and Provincial government to get the police involved in the Robben Island museum fiasco. 

The Cape Town based World Heritage Site has been rocked by another scandal after three top executives were suspended on charges related to the mismanagement of millions of rands. 

The Robben Island Museum Council's Chief Executive Paul Langa, Chief Operating Officer Denmark Tungwana and Chief Finance Officer Nash Masekwameng now face disciplinary charges of "gross negligence and financial mismanagement". 

A recent audit report undertaken by the Orca consultancy identifies widespread fraud and mismanagement at the Robben Island Museum since 2004 including:

    * Over R25 million in cash missing from the books for the 2006/2007 financial year.
    * 259% salary increases paid to senior management between 2004 and 2007.
    * Irregularities involving the purchase and management of the new R22 million Robben Island ferry.

Grindrod says: 

`There has been widespread fraud and criminal misconduct in the management of this historically important destination. This is a very sad indictment on those responsible at a time when the country is celebrating Madiba’s 90th birthday and the values he stood for. 

`The relevant spheres of government must be held accountable for their inaction in the face of this very serious breakdown in management. Every cent of the unaccounted for R25 million must be recovered.

`The people of this country deserve to know the truth about why this situation was allowed to continue for several years. The Independent Democrats demands a criminal investigation to get to the bottom of how the Robben Island Museum was looted in this way. People must be held accountable, we will not allow this serious matter to be swept under the carpet,’ says Grindrod.

ENDS

For media enquiries please call Simon Grindrod on 084 200 6060