The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) today sent away the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) because of lack of preparation.
SCOPA was scheduled to hold hearings on DIRCO’s annual report and financial statements for the 2013/14 financial year. SCOPA was told that DIRCO’s Director-General is in Zimbabwe for a Southern African Development Community meeting. SCOPA wanted to go ahead with the hearing, despite the absence of the Director-General, but had to call it off. SCOPA was disappointed that even though DIRCO’s officials were present at the meeting, they did not seem to have adequate responses to Committee members’ questions.
The department has a qualified audit opinion and SCOPA believes that the African Renaissance fund has not been properly managed and wants DIRCO to account for those specifics.
SCOPA is also concerned about the money that has been wasted bringing officials to Parliament when they could not provide the required information. As the protector of the public purse, the Committee’s main concern is using money adequately. SCOPA will recall DIRCO within the next two weeks to respond to the issues.
Enquiries:
Faith Kwaza
Tel: 021 403 8062
Cell: 081 377 0686
E-mail: fkwaza@parliament.gov.za
