DA demands forensic probe into R17m Songimvelo fence overpayment
Broken barriers continue to let wild animals wander into farming communities while provincial departments dispute audit findings of shoddy workmanship.
The Auditor-General (AG) has raised concerns over millions of rands spent to erect a game fence at Songimvelo Nature Reserve. Songimvelo Nature Reserve is situated in Tjakastad within the Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality.
While tabling her 2025/26 annual AG report, Tsakani Maluleke not only criticised the poor workmanship on the 90km-long game fence at the nature reserve, but also questioned an overpayment of R17m on the project.
She laid the blame for the project squarely at the doors of the Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs (Dardlea), as well as the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA). Maluleke called on the provincial government to ensure consequence management follows.
Wildlife escapes spark project
The decision to erect a new game fence was taken in 2023 after communities bordering the game reserve complained about the existing fence.
The communities complained that the broken fence saw elephants and other large wildlife break out into neighbouring farming and residential communities like Mooiplaas and Elukwatini, where they destroyed crops.
At the time, a contractor was appointed to erect a new fence at a cost of more than R51m. An audit by the AG in October and November 2025 raised the alarm about inferior work done by the contractor.
The report noted that the integrity of the new fence was of poor quality and was eventually damaged again by animals and allowed uncontrolled access to the reserve as electrification works remained unfinished.
Maluleke also flagged an amount of more than R17m over the contract price that was paid to the service provider.
DA demands forensic investigation
Mpumalanga member of the legislature Cyril Chuene, who is the DA spokesperson for agriculture, rural development, land and environmental affairs, called on Premier Mandla Ndlovu to institute a forensic audit into both Dardlea and MTPA to establish why the additional amount was paid to the contractor.
MTPA spokesperson Simphiwe Shungube referred enquiries to Dardlea. In response to Lowvelder’s enquiry about the AG submission, Dardlea said it disputed the finding of overpayment in the AG report.
The department noted that the project is a work in progress, and additional activities are still under way on site.
After a meeting with Dardlea, the AG concluded that the final reliable quantities can be confirmed only at the completion of the project.
The spokesperson for the Office of the Premier, George Mthethwa, confirmed the request for a forensic audit was tabled by Chuene in a motion in the legislature.
He added that no action will be taken at this stage, as the project is still in progress. “The premier is waiting for an audit conclusion from the AG to make a final determination, if any action should be taken against anyone,” said Mthethwa.
