The North West Department of Local Government and Human Settlements will intensify its support to municipalities to realise clean audit objectives in compliance with the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) Section 131, by resuscitating the Provincial Operation Clean Audit Committee as well as foster the implementation of proper records and information management systems in municipalities.
Furthermore, the department will continue to support and strengthen the Municipal Public Accounts Committees (MPAC) in all municipalities. This announcement was made by the North West MEC for Local Government and Human Settlements, Collen Maine when he presented the Budget Speech.
MEC Maine said the department in partnership with the Department of Arts, Culture and Traditional Affairs, has already start a process to train municipal officials records management.
“Basic records keeping and electronic document management system in Kagisano Molopo local municipality and which is spearheaded by Sizwe Ntsaluba and Gobodo, at no cost to the department or the municipality, is also currently underway. We will further be intervening to address challenges raised by the Auditor-General regarding Section 57 Managers’ performance assessments. The department is the process of assessing the audit action plans and performance agreements of senior managers to establish if all Auditor-General issues have been addressed and incorporated with a view to strengthening good governance, public participation and sound administration”, he said.
He said the department is in the process of conduction a skills audit in order to establish skills gaps at senior and strategic positions in municipalities as well as to ascertain whether the right people have been appointed in appropriate positions.
“Action will be taken on cases where councils have appointed senior managers in contravention with the Municipal Systems Amendment Act and regulations. Enforcement of policies, by-laws and forensic investigations are to be conducted in Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality as well as Matlosana, Tswaing, Maquassi Hills, Mahikeng and Ditsobotla local municipalities. These forensic investigations are implemented in terms of Section 106 of the Municipal Systems Act on allegations of fraud, maladministration and corruption.
The department plans to visit every local municipality to verify if ward committee meetings and community meetings take place and to assess the quality of the meetings” concluded Maine said.
Enquiries:
Ben Bole, Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: 018 388 4824
Cell: 0715661399
Fax: 018 391 0328
E-mail: msbole@nwpg.gov.za
