North West accounting general was today (Monday) instructed by Premier Maureen Modiselle, to cancel the government-issued credit card currently in the custody of her sacked former MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture, Grace Bothman.
The move, according to Modiselle, followed information she received that numerous transactions have gone through which have been positively linked to the credit card, days after Bothman was fired on 16 August.
Addressing a press conference in Mafikeng today, Modiselle refused to disclose the amounts involved but confirmed, she had instructed the auditors to include the latest transactions for further investigations.
She said she was of the view that the continued use of the credit card in question, could not be said to be "for official purpose or related to government work".
On the flip side, Modiselle spoke out against what she referred to as:
"A flagrant disregard for procurement prescripts, protocols and Treasury Regulations by senior managers and subordinates."
This she said " has seriously compromised service delivery’" in the province.
Commenting of the preliminary findings in at least two of the three forensic report received, Modiselle said there were "habitual contraventions" of government procurement protocols which she said "may have also prejudiced the provincial government financially’’.
Citing reports on the Office of the Premier and that of Health and Social Development, Modiselle said senior and junior public servants "acting in concert with some entities doing business with government’’ were implicated in the reports.
She said her office was expected to "take the lead" in taking appropriate action against "suspects fingered in the report’’.
Meanwhile, Modiselle confirmed that Dr Lydia Sebego, the head of department of Health and Social Services, has requested a transfer to an unnamed national department.
Enquiries:
Matshube Mfoloe
Cell: 082 305 4594
