The North West Provincial Legislature’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts is happy that an amount of R119 275. 45 was returned back to the state coffers after the MEC for Social Development, Women, Children and People with Disabilty, Mosetsanegape Mokomele-Mothibi, had agreed with the Committee on the misuse of public funds during her trip to Bloemfontein last year.
The department was expected to submit proof of payment of R174 000, after MEC Mokomele-Mothibi admitted to misusing tax payers’ money amounting to R 174 000 by paying for her friend and officials for a private trip in Mangaung during December. She committed herself to pay all the monies back to the state coffers in full within seven working days effective from 19 February 2013, the day the meeting was held.
The Head of the Department, Matshidiso Mogale produced bank deposit slips to the Committee, reflecting that, Mavis Kgosieng, who is said to be MEC Mosetsanegape Mokomele-Mothibi’s friend paid back the R19 793. 53, that was paid for her during the trip. Officials in the Office of the MEC and staff paid back R99 481.96 they also used for the trip whilst the remaining R54 817.91 that was used for the accommodation of the MEC and her bodyguards was not paid back.
Ms Mogale produced an invite, that the MEC received for a business gala dinner and the committee resolved that they further want to interrogate the matter with regards to whether the Ministerial Handbook covers this invite and also to look into the benefit that the department and people of the province would receive from this invite.
Chairperson of the Committee, Hon Hlomane Chauke, said he is happy with the fact that money was returned to the state coffers. “I’m happy that the Committee has been proven correctly that there is an abuse of state resources. We have managed to recover money that was fraudulently used by the MEC’s friend and officials in the office of the MEC.
“We wish to reiterate that SCOPA will continue to fight corruption and mismanagement of state money even if there are threats in our lives, we will not be deterred. “There is no one above the law no matter the position you hold. Public money must be respected and be accounted for,” said Hon Chauke.
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