15 August 2007
The Gauteng Department of Local Government has launched the Municipal Public
Accounts Committees (MPACs) to improve oversight and accountability at local
government level. Speaking at the launch in Boksburg on Wednesday, 15 August
2007, MEC Qedani Mahlangu said the establishment of MPACs comes after the five
year review on local government highlighted weak accountability mechanisms at
local government level.
"The concern extended to lack of or weak accountability by the executive
councillors to council. "The establishment of MPACs is part of strengthening
the oversight function in municipalities," said Mahlangu. The MPACs are
equivalent to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) at provincial
level. They will determine how the financial statements of municipalities
should be scrutinised to ensure thorough political oversight processes.
These committees have been established in all Gauteng's 14 municipalities in
line with the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) which requires
municipalities to have oversight committees. They comprise of different
political parties within municipalities with a blend of experienced councillors
who served in the previous term and those who are new, but with knowledge on
local government issues.
"The objective and purpose of the MPACs is to hold the executive accountable
on financial management and expenditure matters on behalf of the council. These
committees have the powers to call on officials to account," she said. She also
urged members of MPACs to avoid reporting mechanisms that would compromise the
committees' independence, authority and integrity.
"The committee should report directly to council through the office of the
speaker. Whilst guarding its independence, it has to relate to other council
committees to ensure greater accountability in financial management and
expenditure," said Mahlangu. Some of the proposed functions for MPACs in line
with the provincial Scopa include examining:
* financial statements of all executive organs of council
* any reports issues by the auditor-general on financial matters of any
municipal entity
* any audit reports issues on those statements
* the annual report on behalf of council and make recommendations to council
thereafter.
In addition, the 106 appointed committee members have started an
introductory capacity building training programme that will run until 12
September 2007. Westonaria Mayor Maserame Khumalo said the establishment of the
MPACs has taken the municipal reform agenda to another level. "Key to that is
the centrality of strengthening political oversight over the use of public
resources," said Khumalo.
The department's Deputy Director-General, Shan Bolton, added that the
establishment of MPACs had gotten the thumbs-up from the offices of the
Auditor-General and the provincial Scopa. "There is an incredible excitement
about this because all of these entities share a common goal," said Balton.
Issued by: Department of Local Government, Gauteng Provincial
Government
15 August 2007
