Programme director
Pastor Nzimande
Honourable Members of the Provincial Legislature present
HoD: Finance Mr Mandla Mazibuko and predecessor,
Mr Rabeng Tshukudu Executive President, Council member of SAIGA and the Chairperson of the Awards Committee, Prof. Dieter Gloeck
Member of South African Institute of Government Auditors (SAIGA’s) Executive Committee and Council, Mr Raymond Potonas
Public Service Commissioner, Mr. Sonnyboy David Mkhwanazi
Chairpersons and members of the Audit Committee
Delegation from the Office of the Auditor General
Our partners from the corporate sector, labour and other public sector entities
Officials from the Department of Finance and other Departments present here today
Members of the media
Distinguished guests
It affords me a great pleasure to tender my warm greetings to you as we converge here today to witness a very unique moment in the history of our department, certainly this day 12 November 2010, represents a significant juncture in the life of the Department of Finance. It derives its significance from the fact that we had to converge here today to receive the prestigious award, which is a humbling acknowledgement of our efforts towards good governance.
Honourable President, Professor Gloeck, ladies and gentlemen this day also derives its significance from your appreciable presence in this award ceremony. We are indeed delighted that you are all here to share this unique and special moment.
This occasion comes exactly, 16 days after the tabling of the Medium Term Budget Policy Speech, by the Honourable Minister, Mr Pravin Gordon, who articulated that:
“Clean administration is also the central principle approach to supply chain management and ensuring value for money in government procurement of goods and services. The National Treasury has been working closely with other departments and agencies to combat fraud and corruption under the leadership of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Anti-Corruption chaired by Minister Chabane. ”
We should welcome the announcement of the Minister of Finance, that anti corruption efforts have been strengthened by the launch of the Anti Corruption Unit, to oversee, monitor and clamp down on corruption. In this context, it is appropriate to congratulate the National Treasury for being awarded the International First Prize for the Most Open Budget Process. As this department, we learn from the best.
We are also profoundly encouraged & inspired by the fact that our Department obtained a Clean Audit opinion from the Auditor General for the 2009/10 reporting period. Let me take this opportunity to extend a word of appreciation to the HOD & his team, the Chairperson of the Audit Committee and his team and all key stakeholders who were instrumental in contributing towards this significant achievement. Your individual and collective contribution is sincerely appreciated.
Our biggest challenge would be to maintain the status quo, and also make sure that all Departments, Municipalities and Public Entities also obtain a clean audit opinion in order to realize the objective of operation Clean Audit by 2014.
In today’s world, accountability, transparency and accurate reporting are fundamental governance imperatives that should be ingrained into the hearts and minds of all politicians and officials.
We will only progress with our planning and budget processes if we root out corruption and improve our service delivery skills. Such efforts are essential in our quest to continue to succeed in good governance.
Programme director, it affords me great pleasure to announce to this special occasion that Our Department has obtained the best annual report in the province and is for the second time, following the 2004/05 award, the overall winner of the Annual Public Sector Reporting, from the South African Institute of Government Auditors.
Hon. President, Professor Gloeck please accept our profound and sincere appreciation for this prestigious award. This achievement is an illustration that where there is a will there is a way. It communicates that the power of team work, team effort and the team spirit. It also illustrates that establishing a balance between performance and compliance is doable.
To the HOD, Staff and our entire key stakeholders, your individual and collective contribution is profoundly appreciated.
When government finances are healthy, the livelihood of society remains healthy as well. These Awards will instil a sense of confidence in our government and sends a clear message to our people that we remain committed to do more to improve their living conditions and in the process contribute to making the province a better place to live and invest in.
Work has just begun. These awards will serve as a driving force to work harder, better and take the department and our clients to new heights in terms of a clean audit status.
Let me borrow the words from Martin Luther King during his acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize Award, when he said;
“Every time I take a flight, I am always mindful of the many people who make a successful journey possible - the known pilots and the unknown ground crew. Most of these people will never make the headline and their names will not appear in Who's Who.”
With these words, I wish to pass my sincere gratitude to my predecessor, the Honourable Jabulani Mahlangu and the former Head of Department Mr Rabeng Tshukudu for having laid a solid foundation on which we continue to build, better, improved financial and operational systems in our department and in the province.
Ladies and gentlemen, it would not have been possible to claim these Awards without the hard work of our managers and staff members who work tirelessly to ensure that we remain focused in our quest to become a model department and province. Your efforts did not go unnoticed. Well done!!
To the members of the Audit committee and the officials in the Auditor General’s office, Public Service Commission, the Portfolio Committee on Premier’s Office; Finance; Community Safety, Security and Liaison and the Standing Committee of Public Accounts you all remain our very critical, constructive partners in our quest for better and improved governance and administration. You’re honest and constructive criticisms encouraged us to improve and to do more.
To the Panel and Awards Committee, thank you for paying attention to our work and trusting that we have the capabilities of changing and improving the manner in which government conducts its business.
Lastly but not least, our deepest appreciations goes to our distinguished guests who travelled from afar to witness this occasion. You answered our calls when we asked for your support and made yourselves available. For that, you deserve a hand of applause.
As we receive these awards, we are still mindful of the fact that the debilitating and grinding poverty continues to afflict our people and chains them to the lowest rung of the economic ladder. We must never fail them to significantly contribute towards changing their plight.
On behalf of the people of Mpumalanga and their government, we receive these SAIGA 2010 Awards with humility. We commit that we will continue to live up to what they expect from us, to do more.
I thank you and may God bless you all.
