MBOMBELA – The tenure of the newly appointed acting CEO of the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA),
Mr Sam Maluleka, got off to a rocky start this week. The MTPA appeared in front of the select committee of public accounts (Scopa) in legislature on Wednesday and left the committee unimpressed.
Maluleka started working as the accounting officer only last week after working as chief director of environmental services in the department of economic development and tourism. Unfortunately, he has inherited the responsibility of former CEOs, committee chairman
Mr Sibusiso Malaza pointed out.
The committee members said the report submitted by the agency failed to give a satisfying account of the progress that had been made in implementing Scopa resolutions since 2009. Two overriding themes were that action was not taken against officials, due to them no longer being with the agency, and that suppliers were routinely not paid within 30 days due to budget constraints.
Malaza said he failed to understand the connection between non-compliance with financial prescripts and funding. “Does the MTPA have the capacity to take action, because nowhere has action been taken?”
Committee member Mr David Dube said Scopa resolutions were not optional to implement and that the agency’s reports only indicated that management was in the process of implementing former resolutions now.
“You are giving me the impression that you are in tatters by saying you are still going to do things. Can this institution tell us that they are prepared and well geared to preserve our nature?”
He seemed satisfied that there was still some institutional memory in the MTPA, despite the top-six agency representatives at the table, including the CFO and head of the audit committee being in acting positions. This was explained as due to a reorganisation in the agency’s organogram, and some officials had been at the MTPA since 2008.
Malaza asked that they return for their Scopa hearing at a later date as the committee could not accept the lack of progress reported.
Maluleka said, “Going forward the buck would stop with me.”
- Read more on the MTPA’s finances:
Financial chaos trips up two agencies
- Read more on the rhino horn that were stolen from the MTPA last year:
Court update – 112 pieces of rhino horn stolen from the MTPA in 2014
