By Obakeng Maje

North West Premier Thandi Modise appeared before a SCOPA public hearing in the Madibeng Local Municipality Council Chambers to report to the Committee on the progress into investigations into the controversial “D Account”.

The D-Account falls under the control of the Premier of the Province in conjunction with the MEC of Local Government & Traditional Affairs and of the MEC of Finance.

The account collects monies in the form of royalties from platinum mines on the tribal lands in the province.

“The purpose of these royalties was to provide for development in these tribal areas for the benefit of the wider communities living on the land” DA John Franzsen said.

DA said over the years this account has seen deposits of over R500 million and monies were withdrawn at their own will with no control. The current balance now is approximately R100m.

“To make matters worse, the account has not been audited for the past 19 years” DA said.

The Premier in her submission to the Committee, which was meant to clarify the management of this account, failed to clarify any meaningful aspects regarding this, according to reports.

“She however admitted that she did not understand the working process of the D-account” Franzsen said.

“The DA can only after listening to the Premier come to the conclusion that

this account is clouded in a major cover-up”.

Modise suggested to the Committee that a closed meeting be held where she would arrange a delegation of “all concerned” to discuss and report on the D-account.

DA said the will monitor the developments into the investigation of the management of the account until the truth about its management is fully

disclosed.-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_