Annual Report
29 November 2007
Mafikeng â Contrary to the article which appeared on The Mail (29 November
2007) which stated that the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and
Environment's Annual Report was not accepted by the North West Provincial
Legislature, the department would like to put on record that the House accepted
the annual report on its second presentation on 22 November 2007.
The successful tabling of the Annual Report followed what the department has
cited as an unfortunate misunderstanding and misinterpretation of certain
aspects of the report's content at the initial tabling of the report. To
clarify matters, a comprehensive response to the questions raised by members of
the Legislature was last week presented before the Portfolio Committee on
Agriculture, Conservation and Environment. The departmental management team led
by the Head of Department, Mosweu Mogotlhe, clarified all issues raised and
satisfied the committee that the department has indeed achieved a remarkable
performance turn-around of 96% expenditure of allocated and rolled over funds;
in just one year, without any incidents of misappropriation.
"Incorrect speculation that second hand tractors from India and Pakistan
were bought by management was dismissed, as correct and detailed information
was provided to prove that this was not the case. Our understanding now is that
all answers provided to the House were explicit and satisfactory to the
oversight committee. We are therefore heartened and encouraged by the
Legislature's decision to adopt the department's report as this means that the
remarkable hard work that the department put into improving performance was
acknowledged by the overseers. I can assure the public that the conjecture
regarding the purchase of so called 'second hand equipment' was off the mark.
There exists explicit proof that the department purchased new tractors at
acceptable, market related prices," said MEC Serfontein.
Contact:
Lesego Mncwango
Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: 018 389 5768
Cell: 078 459 5981
E-mail: Lmncwango@nwpg.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment, North
West Provincial Government
29 November 2007
