North West Legislature Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management Applauds Improved Audit Outcomes, Urges Strict Accountability Measures

The North West Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management, chaired by Hon. Freddy Sonakile, held an oversight meeting with MEC for the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management, MEC Wessels Morweng and the Head of Department (HOD) Dr. Hans Kekana to review the department’s 2023/24 Annual Performance Report.

Hon Sonakile commended the department for securing an unqualified audit opinion for the 2023/24 financial year, a significant improvement from the prior four years of qualified audit outcomes. “This progress reflects a determined effort to address longstanding concerns flagged by the Auditor-General, such as ineffective control systems, non-compliance with supply chain regulations, and failure to implement consequence management over wrongdoing,” said Hon Sonakile

In light of these achievements, the Committee emphasized the need to sustain the audit opinion with a further aim of getting to a clean audit. Amongst other matters, the Committee requested the department to submit a post-audit action plan, to enforce disciplinary measures against officials responsible for irregular expenditure, as mandated by section 38(1)(h)(iii) of the PFMA, to urgently fill vacant positions to prevent underspending on compensation for employees.

The Committee further proposed a meeting with the Department of Public Works and Roads to address outstanding infrastructural issues, including the timely completion of the Zeerust Weighbridge.
Ends