FIVE metro departments had to answer to the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) on Friday about wasteful expenditure in their departments.
The MPAC held its second sitting at Kempton Park Civic Centre Council Chambers with the objective to scrutinise items as they relate to financial responsibility by the executive. The committee does this on behalf of council.
Chaired by Alderman Dimakatso Sebiloane, the MPAC aims to contribute to the existing culture of transparency and accountability strongly advocated for by the separation of powers governance framework.
Members of the community observed the proceedings. The following departments were called to account for irregular and wasteful expenditure as it related to annual financial statements for the year 2015/16: finance, community safety, transport planning, human resource management and waste management.
Sebiloane conducted the hearing vigilantly and expressed the importance of the MPAC’s work in ensuring stringent financial responsibility processes by Ekurhuleni Metro employees, as their primary directive is to serve the community with honesty and integrity.
“We must take this process seriously as we are not only entrusted with providing basic services to our communities but to also subscribe to an ethos of good governance within this institution.”
The Municipal Structures Act prescribes the existence and purpose of section 79 standing and oversight committees which have three key functions: to peruse reports referred to them by council as they emanate from the executive; to play an oversight role of the executive on behalf of council; and to play an advisory legislative role.
Opening the sitting to the community strengthens transparency and accountability and assists in deepening democracy through effective civic involvement.
