The Department of Correctional Services has engaged a top gear in its quest to get a clean audit report after eight years of consecutive audit qualification of its financial statements.
The department has set aside about R21 million to recruit 496 interns specifically to beef up its asset management capacity in all its 48 management areas, six regional office and head office.
The 496 posts were advertised in the weekend newspapers and potential applicants have up to 15 October to submit their applications.
The recruitment campaign is aimed at netting graduates with competencies in supply chain management, commerce and public administration that will be contracted for 12 months to help solve asset management challenges facing the department.
The graduates will also gain on the job competencies and skills that will increase their marketability on the job market.
Correctional Services National Commissioner Tom Moyane says the recruitment drive is one in a series of activities aimed at turning around the asset management system of Correctional Services for which we were qualified for eight year in succession.
He said: "It is no longer enough to celebrate the reduction of qualified areas from six years ago to only one over the past two years; we must now eliminate the qualification we receive on our asset management system".
Commissioner Moyane added that: "Although given the depth of the asset management challenge we set the year 2012/13 for achieving a clean audit report, we have engaged a top gear to obtain the unqualified audit findings sooner rather than later".
Commissioner Moyane said: "we have men and women at every correctional centre who have integrity and commitment to excellence that are determined to ensure good corporate governance in Correctional Services".
Auditor-General South Africa (AGSA) in its latest finding on the department's financial statements identified major and minor tangible movable assets as a major challenge where they cannot find full explanations on discrepancies seen between various asset management systems of the department with significant implications running into hundreds of millions of rands.
Commissioner Moyane said: "we take the qualification of the department by the Auditor-General very seriously and we will leave no stone unturned to obtain a clean audit report".
The recruitment of interns will add to interventions already achieved to address audit qualifications. The department has integrated and reconciled the three asset management systems that include provisioning administration system (PAS), web asset tool and BAS.
It has also migrated all of its 142 stores nationwide to the new logistical system as approved by the National Treasury to ensure one asset register and effective verification systems.
The Department of Correctional Services has committed itself to:
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Improve accountability of management so that all major and minor tangible movable assets are fully accounted for with supporting documents made available to explain any asset transaction or changes to meet the expectations of the Auditor-General
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Strengthen internal controls including tightening of corporate risk management and effectiveness of the internal audit function; and
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Intensifying training of logistics officials who will also be responsible for mentoring the 546 interns currently being recruited.
Commissioner Moyane has also praised both the Auditor-General for forming a partnership with Correctional Services to help address audit challenges, as well as the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services for heightened oversight to keep the department on its toes.
For reference purposes to can access the annual report of Correctional Services from our website.
Enquiries:
Manelisi Wolela
Cell: 083 626 0304
