Closing remarks of Limpopo Premier, Chupu Mathabatha, during the Special Premier Intergovernmental Forum at Bolivia Lodge
Programme Director
Members of the Executive Council
Executive Mayor and Mayors from various municipalities, Director General of the Provincial Administration
SALGA Provincial Leadership Ladies and gentlemen
We have now come to the end of our Special Premier’s Special Intergovernmental Forum.
I would like to take this opportunity thank you for your robustness with which you engaged with the issues in this forum.
I am therefore confident that as we go back to our respective municipalities, we have a sense and appreciation of the common and over-arching challenges that confront us, especially in the management of finances.
This forum was unequivocal in identifying some of these challenges. Key amongst them are:
- Lack of consequence management for wrong doing
- Persistent non-compliance with supply chain management prescripts
- Un-authorised, wasteful and fruitful expenditure of the fiscus
- Poor asset management systems and record keeping
- Failure to achieve the set targets and performance audits
The reality, however, is that these challenges are not new. They are as old as the new democratic system of local government in our country.
Although I appreciate the keen interest shown, and the active involvement of Mayors in the audit processes, we must start to see the impact of such involvement.
It is important that you consistently provide this strategic leadership throughout the process. If you come in at the tail- end, you won’t be able to understand the cause of these problems and will obviously fail to provide the required intervention.
It is in this context also - that the Audit Steering Committees, led by the Mayors themselves, must ensure that all audit- process related issues are addressed well on time.
It is important that in your interaction with the Auditor General you become cooperative. This should include responding to audit queries on time, and being proactive in dealing with areas of contention. There is no need to be unnecessarily confrontational.
In the same vein, the top or executive management of municipalities must be available at all times and fully participate in the audit process. It cannot be that information or documents are said not to be available because someone decided to go on leave or to be deliberately absent to frustrate the process.
Programme Director
I want to emphasise that the strategic focus in addressing these recurring audit challenges should be the asset management, reduction of irregular, wasteful and fruitless expenditure, more importantly compliance with Supply Chain Management policies.
Above all, we must be true to our commitment to take action against wrong doers. Without consequences, especially for recurring things, we are going nowhere.
This Forum has also directed the District Mayors in particular, to strengthen the District IGR Forum as a basis for integrated planning, monitoring, evaluation, oversight and, above all, knowledge-sharing platform on financial management experiences.
The model used by Capricorn District Municipality, of establishing support units for local municipalities, must be replicated in all district municipalities. In the same vein, an aggressive and sustainable skills development programme for staff in the finance units should be given priority.
The Department of Corporative Government, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs, CoGHSTA, must also attend to the issue raised in this forum regarding traditional levies. This must be done as a matter of urgency.
Lastly Ladies and gentlemen
I have got no doubt, whatsoever in my mind, that with your collective and resolute commitment, the province will improve on good corporate governance and delivery of services to our people.
This is the only way, as directed by both Limpopo Development Plan and the National Development Plan, that we can build a developmental state.
I Thank you
