North West Legislature SCOPA has Resolved to Summon the North West Legislature Accounting Officer for Failure to Appear Before Committee to Account for 2018/19 and 2019/20 Audit Outcomes
The North West Legislature’ Standing Committee on Provincial Public Accounts (SCOPA) chaired by Hon. Job Dliso has resolved to summon the Accounting Officer of the North West Provincial Legislature, Mr Oageng Mosiane, for failure to appear before the committee to account for the for 2018/19 and 2019/20 Audit Outcomes.
This comes after the committee had invited the NWPL management and the office of the Speaker to a committee meeting to come and account on their audit outcomes for the fourth time to no avail. Committee Chairperson, Hon Job Dliso, said this is the fourth time this has happened with no apology from the Legislature side. “We have sent an invitation to both the Speaker and the accounting officer and they have not availed
themselves with no apologies. We have records showing that they have been appearing to the same committee in the previous term of the Legislature. “Appearance to SCOPA is as per the 1st quarter legislature programme signed by the Speaker which compels all committees to adhere to and it is further indicated in the North West Provincial Strategic Plan for 2020-2025 signed by both the Speaker and the Accounting Officer that key priorities of SCOPA is to hold Legislature accountable by reviewing their Annual Financial Statements(AFS) and the Auditor General (AG) audit reports.
“We have also received legal opinion on the matter that the Legislature should account to this committee. There is a post audit action plan that needs to be responded to,” said Hon. Dliso.
Hon. Dliso said the ‘blatant disregard of the Committee by the Legislature is worrisome’. “I am very disturbed by what is happening. This is sending a wrong picture to members of the public as most of the work we are doing is about protecting public funds. Where exactly will the Legislature account as it is appropriated public funds?
“The Legislature needs to be exemplary as a law making body and it needs to abide by the legislations and its own standing rules,” said Hon. Dliso.
In a presentation done by Mr Danie Pienaar who is the Manager for NWPL Audit in the office Auditor General, the NWPL has received unqualified audit opinions for the two consecutive years.
“The lack of compliance with laws and regulations within expenditure management and procurement and contract management remains the key obstacle in moving the legislature towards achieving the desired audit outcomes. Significant matters identified were irregular and fruitless and wasteful expenditure not prevented, payments to suppliers not made within 30 days and contracts extended without following the SCM regulations.
“The issues of over reliance on consultants and inadequate consequence management for poor performance and transgressions still remain a Concern that requires urgent attention by the Legislature,” said Mr Pienaar.
Mr Pienaar and the Accountant General, Geo Paul also confirmed to the committee that in the previous administrations, the Legislature has been appearing to SCOPA. “In the past 15 years I’ve been working in the Auditor general’s office the Legislature has been appearing before SCOPA.
For media enquiries or to arrange interviews: with the Chairperson of the Committee contact on 079 527 0628.
Namhla Luhabe – Chairperson of the Committee
Cell: 079 527 0628.
Source: Government of South Africa