ALMOST R80-million spent to help municipal financial officers clean up their audits was a complete waste of money.
This is according to the Bhisho legislature’s portfolio committee on local government .
MPLs said taxpayers’ money was being poured down the drain as despite continual interventions things did not improve.
A few months before the targeted 2014 clean audit campaign, not one of the province’s 45 municipalities received a clean bill of health from auditor-general Terence Nombembe .
In his recent policy speech, local government MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane said the province would spend R42.1- million in this financial year to help municipalities obtain clean audits.
Another R37-million is set aside to support CFOs in struggling municipalities and help make a dent in the national targets set for next year.
However, during the meeting with departmental officials this week, committee members said the allocations were unnecessary.
Committee chair and ANC MPL Xolile Nqatha said his committee saw no value for money in the allocations. The R37-million to support CFOs was unnecessary as financial officers were already supposed to possess all the necessary expertise.
“ It’s close to waste.”
Superintended-general Stanley Khanyile said the R37-million was from treasury and his department would pay the R42.1-million over three years . “It is the third year that we have invested so much and with that amount, it must indeed yield results. But I think we need to coordinate our efforts,” Khanyile said.
COPE MPL Mbulelo Ntenjwa said the committee assumed CFOs were “ able to perform their duties and do not still need mentoring”.
“There should be a way where we get out of this traditional method of senior officials being employed first and trained later,” Ntenjwa said .
MPLs also questioned the awarding of Vuna Excellence Awards to “undeserving municipalities”, the screening of personnel sent by the department to support struggling municipalities and the department’s role in vetting senior administration personnel employed in provincial councils. —
R80m ‘wasted’ on CFOs
This is according to the Bhisho legislature’s portfolio committee on local government .
MPLs said taxpayers’ money was being poured down the drain as despite continual interventions things did not improve.
A few months before the targeted 2014 clean audit campaign, not one of the province’s 45 municipalities received a clean bill of health from auditor-general Terence Nombembe .
In his recent policy speech, local government MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane said the province would spend R42.1- million in this financial year to help municipalities obtain clean audits.
Another R37-million is set aside to support CFOs in struggling municipalities and help make a dent in the national targets set for next year.
However, during the meeting with departmental officials this week, committee members said the allocations were unnecessary.
Committee chair and ANC MPL Xolile Nqatha said his committee saw no value for money in the allocations. The R37-million to support CFOs was unnecessary as financial officers were already supposed to possess all the necessary expertise.
“ It’s close to waste.”
Superintended-general Stanley Khanyile said the R37-million was from treasury and his department would pay the R42.1-million over three years . “It is the third year that we have invested so much and with that amount, it must indeed yield results. But I think we need to coordinate our efforts,” Khanyile said.
COPE MPL Mbulelo Ntenjwa said the committee assumed CFOs were “ able to perform their duties and do not still need mentoring”.
“There should be a way where we get out of this traditional method of senior officials being employed first and trained later,” Ntenjwa said .
MPLs also questioned the awarding of Vuna Excellence Awards to “undeserving municipalities”, the screening of personnel sent by the department to support struggling municipalities and the department’s role in vetting senior administration personnel employed in provincial councils. —
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos