The Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature, Hon. Desbo Mohono officially opened the 7th Legislature Provincial Speakers’ Forum

The Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature, Hon. Desbo Mohono officially opened the 7th Legislature Provincial Speakers’ Forum wherein the former Speaker of Parliament of the Republic of South Africa who is also the former Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature, Ms. Thandi Modise delivered the keynote address.
The forum is made up of Speakers from different local and district municipalities led by the Legislature Speaker, Hon. Mohono. Amongst others, the forum is aimed at allowing the Speakers including members of the Municipal Public Accounts Committees in the North West province, the Auditor General – North West office and the Heads of Finance and Cooperative Governance provincial departments to discuss challenges and efficient strategies that will enhance the role of oversight and accountability at municipalities.

Hon. Mohono said the forum is an important platform meant to share knowledge on challenges experienced by oversight bodies in government and holding both the Executive and the local government accountable on service delivery matters. “We aim to develop methods that can ensure that there is proper implementation of service delivery to our people and use our powers as Speakers to hold both the provincial government and municipalities accountable and keep our house in order.

“We should also engage the office of the Auditor General on empowering our Municipal Public Accounts Committees on holding municipalities accountable so as to do their work better and ensure that oversight bodies monitor implementation of services, procurement processes and contract management,” said Hon. Mohono.

Ms. Thandi Modise said Councilors in municipalities need to relook at themselves and the capacities they hold to perform oversight. “We need public representatives that are well capacitated enough on laws and regulations that empowers them. Oversight should mean allowing the Executive to perform their duties then later hold them accountable,” said Ms. Modise.
She also said municipalities should also use recommendations of internal audit committees as they conduct in-year monitoring on service delivery. “These structures can assist government on acquiring better audit opinions as they already know internal regular implementations of annual performance plans and service delivery budget implementation plans,” said Ms. Modise.
Hon. Mohono said the next session of the forum will outline the 7th Legislature Provincial Speakers’ Forum and how it will be implemented.