Speaker of the North West Legislature urged Municipal Speakers to lead on transforming municipalities
On Friday, 10 October 2014, the Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature, Hon. Sussana Dantjie has urged the Speakers of different municipalities in the province to lead on transforming municipalities in the province. She said this during the Special Provincial Speaker’s forum meeting held at Ventersdorp Local Municipality.
“The Speakers must have a clear plan to address the recommendations on the audit outcomes of their respective municipalities. I also encourage the Municipal Public Accounts Committee chairpersons to oversee that finances in municipalities are well spent through their oversight responsibilities,” said Hon. Dantjie
She said the managers in the Speakers’ offices must implement policies and directives of Speakers so that there can be accountability on finances.
In its report, the Auditor-General’s Office reported that the root causes of poor audit outcomes are lack of consequences for poor performance and transgressions; vacancy in key positions; employees lack appropriate skills; slow response by political leadership and management.
The Deputy Business Executive at the Provincial Auditor-General’s Office, Mr. Schalla van Schalk Wyk said the irregular expenditure in municipalities for the financial year 2012/13 is estimated at R1 644 748 629.
“The municipal councils through MPACs and Speakers must ensure that, what is reported on the Annual Reports and council resolutions is well implemented. In some municipalities, the oversight processes of MPACs involving the public has never happened for the past 3 years. What was agreed with the members of the public during the Integrated Development Planning process is often not implemented thus affecting the audit outcomes,” said Mr Van Schalk Wyk.
He said the law makes provision for councils to take action against officials who commit irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure. The District Speaker of Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati Local Municipality, Cllr. Neo Skalk said councils must conduct weekly steering committee meetings with municipal managements to discuss audit findings.
“We also need to strengthen the intergovernmental relations between local municipalities, district municipalities and provincial governments,” said Cllr. Skalk.
The Chairperson of MPAC in Matlosana Local Municipality, Cllr. Lawrence Mabunda said the rotation of managers involved in financial misconduct is a challenge in many municipalities in the province.
“The recovery of irregular, wasteful and fruitless expenditure is a challenge because often managers who commit fraud in their respective municipalities resign and resurface in municipalities in other provinces and commit the same problems,” said Cllr. Mabunda.
Hon. Dantjie encouraged the Speakers to revive their district forums to work on commitments to change the situation in municipalities.
Contact:
Tebogo Chaane, Spokesperson: Office of the Speaker
Cell: 076 332 8270
Tel: 018 392 7000
E-mail: chaanet@nwpl.org.za
