North West SCOPA Sends Health Department Packing for Undermining Legislature
On Friday, 11 March 2016, the North West Provincial Legislature’s Standing Committee on Provincial Public Accounts led by Hon. Mahlakeng Mahlakeng sent the provincial Department of Health back for failure to produce all annexures that were needed by the Committee to ensure that the department accounts on the Public Finance Management Act audit outcomes of the financial year 2014/15.
Honourable Members of the Committee were not impressed at all by the excuse given by the Head of the Department, Dr Lekalakala that they could not bring all documents because they are locked out of their offices by striking Expanded Public Works Programme former employees who wanted their contracts to be renewed. They felt very strongly that the department cannot prioritise 20 people who are encroaching on other people’s rights instead come and make excuse in Parliament.
“Parliament cannot be held at ransom by a group of striking workers. To us this simply means that the department did not prepare for the meeting. Even so, why would they give us documents now and expect us to engage fruitfully o n them. They should’ve sent documents earlier so that we can also have time to read and prepare for the meeting accordingly.
“There is nothing to discuss if documents are not in order, where are we going to refer to. The department must resolve the matter of the strikers as this has been going on for too long now. They must attend those people as soon as possible,” said Hon. Mahlakeng Mahlakeng.
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Namhla Luhabe
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