MBOMBELA – Accounting officers who are not in permanent positions have a detrimental effect on governance. “It is not in line with good governance for someone to act indefinitely,” says deputy Public Protector (PP), Adv Kevin Malunga.
He spoke to Lowvelder during a visit to the province last week where his office met with representatives from provincial departments and local municipalities, to discuss the role of the PP as part of its stakeholder forum. Malunga said it was heartening that the province participated in these talks, as some simply ignored the PP.
He added that the PP, Adv Thuli Madonsela, was not worried about its recommendations being implemented, but there are challenges.
In a case where the institution of criminal charges is recommended but not done, for instance, it becomes unclear who should take these steps. Malunga ascribes this to a lack of synergy between themselves and other entities. “Part of the problem may be with our process. That is the point of today’s meeting.
“Where corruption thrives, service delivery becomes but a pipe dream. Public administration must be accountable. That is what we do.”
According to Malunga, a situation where a different person is the accounting officer every few months gives rise to a lack of accountability. “The absence of consequences for people are found wanting. This worries us and me personally.”
He explained that due to the dynamics of any organisation, public or private, it was necessary to sometimes have people in acting positions as a stop gap, but this should not be for a long period as it weakens the implementation of policy. “It is open to abuse. It is bad for institutional memory. It is very bad for governance from our perspective.”
He was speaking in general and not about a specific HOD or municipal manager (MM). He did say that in his office’s experience, “an acting MM is not efficient”. Mbombela Local Municipality has had an acting MM since the former one was fired a year ago.
The CFO has also been in an acting position for close on two years now. A reason sometimes cited for not making permanent appointments is a lack of suitable candidates.
But Malunga says, “I don’t think it is possible not to find a suitable candidate. It is a lack of will. Most have a sufficient budget to do it.”
