Limpopo Government on its October 2022 Post-Executive Council meeting

RE: October 2022 Post-Executive Council media statement

The Limpopo Executive Council (EXCO) met in its regular monthly meeting on 19 October 2022.

EXCO welcomed three new Members of Executive Council (MCEs), who attended the meeting for the first time after they were sworn-in at the beginning of October 2022. They are: Ms. Nakedi Sibanda-Kekana for Sport, Arts and Culture, Ms. Florence Radzilani for Transport and Community Safety, and Mr. Rodgers Monama for Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism.

1. Quality Audit Outcomes
EXCO welcomed the Audit Outcomes Report as presented by the Auditor-General, Ms. Tsakani Maluleke for the financial year 2021-2022. The AG presented what she referred to as improved Quality Audit Results for the provincial government. Limpopo received four(4) clean audit opinion, twelve (12) unqualified audit opinion, and three (3) qualified audit opinion; without any department or entity receiving a disclaimer.

The Auditor-General Ms. Tsakani Maluleke said: "We urge the province to continue in this trajectory, it shows that you are working within a culture and tone that drives improvement and a culture that does not tolerate irregular expenditure."

The AG also noted that the province has seen a significant drop in irregular expenditure from the previous financial years. She said irregular expenditure has now only been experienced in few departments and entity; that is: Education, Road Agency Limpopo (RAL) and Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure. What the AGSA office was pleased about is that there is a significant drop in irregular expenditure at RAL wherein the agency has introduced internal control measures.

AG also applauded the province for sound financial health. However, she encouraged the EXCO to look into entities that are required to generate income to be encouraged to do so to improve the financial health of the province.

For overall effectiveness of the provincial administration, the AG encouraged coordinating departments like Office of the Premier, Provincial Treasury and COGHSTA to push for capacity, capability and accountability in other departments; especially in areas that related to planning, monitoring and evaluation.

There is further need to strengthen coordination in relation to infrastructure provisioning to encourage spending, AG said. There was need to further look into health on matters of contigent
liabilities, especially medico-legal matters.

EXCO expressed satisfaction with this recorded overall performance, it noted with happiness that Limpopo fiscus remains stable even when the challenge remains medico-legal spending at the

Department of Health. On consequence management, EXCO welcomed the report by the AG that there was overall improvement in Limpopo and that it shall continue to work on this so that internal
controls are brought to balance overall outlook of the province.

EXCO reiterated its decision that public entities, particularly Limpopo Economic Development Agency, must move with speed to implement a turn-around strategy to ensure financial sustainability.

The Executive Council directed that all MECs, HODs and CFOs, must expedite the implementation of Departmental Audit Action Plans with a view of attaining clean audits. Provincial Treasury will support departments which are still lagging behind to clear their irregular expenditure, by putting necessary systems and controls.

2. Infrastructure Spending and Service Delivery
The Executive Council has noted that, the provincial government has recorded significant improvement on its spending patterns on a year-to-year basis to date. In terms of the comparative half yearly assessment of the three previous financial years the recorded improvement was 2020-2021 (19%), 2021-2022 (21%), and 2022-2023 (37%). EXCO is also pleased that the service delivery environment is stable, paving way for post Covid-19 socio-economic recovery.

3. Employment Equity Targets
The Executive Council reflected on compliance to the Employment Equity Targets in the provincial administration. It noted that there was slow movement in some departments to achieve the targets. Therefore, EXCO ordered that urgent attention must be given to this matter as empowerment of designated groups remains a strategic priority of government.

4. Other Matters
The Executive Council approved the proposed framework for the Mapungubwe Arts and culture Festival scheduled to take place during December 2022. EXCO also noted the report on Learner
Performance Intervention Plan aimed at supporting Grade 12 learners to improve on their results.

Enquiries - Ndavhe Ramakuela (Provincial Government Spokesperson)
082 200 5357
Email: RamakuelaN@premier.limpopo.gov.za
Willy Mosoma (Premier’s Spokesperson)
072 102 4920 or 082 416 1347
MosomaW@premier.limpopo.gov.za