Underperforming municipal managers face the chop

Municipal managers, who receive disclaimer audit outcomes, could soon have their contracts terminated for the adverse findings, said Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Deputy Minister, Andries Nel, Northglen News reports.

Nel announced that Cogta is piloting the insertion of a clause into the contracts of municipal managers for them to be removed in case of disclaimers.

“Even though there is an ongoing long-term improvement in municipal audit outcomes, 27 municipalities received repeat disclaimers,” he said.

Nel made the announcement at a conference titled ‘State Capture and its Aftermath – Building Responsiveness through State Reform’, hosted by the Public Affairs Research Institute at the University of Johannesburg.

He said the department is confident that the recent amendments to the Public Audit Act will assist in ensuring stronger action in cases of transgression.

He said the Auditor-General (AG) would now have the power to refer material irregularities to appropriate authorities to investigate.

“The AG now also has remedial powers that can be levelled against transgressors. These remedial powers include the recovery of money lost as a result of the irregularities. The failure to spend Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) allocations is unacceptable, as it affects ordinary citizens who need water, roads, electricity and other services,” he said.