E Rasool on Youth Commission and Department of Community Safety

1 December 2006

A few weeks ago, Cabinet convened a press conference following the
pronouncements of the AG on the audit of all government departments and
entities. This followed an intensive session cabinet had with the AG and his
team, as well as a meeting I convened, as Premier, with the AG.

In that press conference Cabinet acknowledged that there had been slippage
in our auditing results because four departments or entities did not receive
unqualified reports. However, while acknowledging that any slippage was not
welcome, we assured the public that we remain one of the best performing
provinces. More importantly, we assured the public that in any of the
infractions, qualifications, disclaimers and adverse opinions expressed by the
AG, we assured the public that there was no corruption, mismanagement and fraud
involved.

I gave this assurance that there was no corruption, mismanagement or fraud
on the basis of what the AG and his team had told me and the Cabinet. In my
meeting with the AG I explicitly asked him whether any of the auditing
infractions constituted corruption. He assured me that that was not the
case.

However, through the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) hearings,
the Annual Report process, the adjustment budget debate and in the public
domain, I detect an impression and perception of corruption, mismanagement or
fraud particularly with regard to the Youth Commission and the Department of
Community Safety.

In fact, some have gone so far as to call for the closure of the Youth
Commission and for an investigation into the Minister of Community Safety,
suggesting even that he should resign.

These are serious perceptions or allegations. When I was confronted in my
department's adjustment debate with these allegations about the Youth
Commission, I responded by repeating the assurances given me by the AG.
However, I offered to reconvene such a discussion with the AG.

I am now inviting the AG to such a discussion with me so that I can again
ask him whether they have found corruption in the four affected Departments or
entities (including Community Safety and the Youth Commission); why, despite
his assurances to Cabinet, this perception has taken root in the Legislative
(SCOPA and the Standing Committees); and whether I would need to take any
additional steps to correct any such perceptions.

We have set ourselves the goal of an improved audit performance next year.
We pride ourselves that we have consistently performed well and that the
Western Cape Government has not been involved in any major financial scandal
despite the robustness of our politics. Any suggestion of impropriety must be
dealt with decisively and I am prepared to do so. It is for this reason that I
need to revert to the AG and be guided by him. I need to understand whether
anything has changed between his meeting with Cabinet and now.

Enquiries:
Shado Twala
Tel: (021) 483 5642
Fax: (021) 483 5636
Cell: 083 640 6771
E-mail: stwala@pgwc.gov.za

Issued by: Office of the Premier, Western Cape Provincial Government
1 December 2006