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The DA can reveal that six of the new council members for the Robben Island Museum are linked to Gayton McKenzie’s high-up political cadres, and his political adviser, Charles Cilliers, was on the selection panel.

The Robben Island Museum Board is an entity of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, where Minister Mackenzie is the executive authority. By turning this museum board into a playground for cadre deployment, Minister Mackenzie makes a mockery of the legacy of Robben Island and shows that he has learnt all the worst lessons from state capture.

Following the Mzansi Golden Economy Fund controversy, in which Minister Mackenzie cut funding to several of the country’s leading cultural festivals, allegations have emerged that funding was instead diverted to senior members of the PA. This matter remains under investigation.

South Africa should not allow the cadre deployment policy of the ANC to be replaced by small party cadre deployment. Cadre deployment has broken down state capacity and destroyed opportunity and service delivery.

McKenzie appears to preach opportunity, but practices cronyism. It’s getting hard to ignore the pattern.

Now he must come clean on exactly how the new council members of Robben Island Museum were picked and must disclose to parliament all the paperwork: vetting records, selection criteria, and conflicts of interest checks.

In Parliament, McKenzie refused to answer about his close associated taking up Board roles in his Department – he tried to shrug it off. Why won’t he let qualified and hard working people take up opportunities; why does he only let close associates in?

McKenzie must show every single appointment, and all the paperwork. Wys die papiere!

Issued by Leah Potgieter MP - DA Spokesperson on Sport, Arts and Culture