The latest Auditor General’s (A-G) report on 2016/17 audit outcomes for municipalities present a bleak picture for local councils in KwaZulu-Natal.
The A-G attributed the overall deterioration in municipal audit results and a blatant disregard for controls and compliance with legislation by officials. These are some of the factors leading to accountability failures in many of the province’s municipalities.
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The IFP believes that financial mismanagement will persist if there are no consequences for perpetrators. It is imperative that we implement accountability measures and consequence management for officials dealing with the public’s money.
As long as punitive measures are not implemented, officials will not become financially responsible and municipalities will not improve their audit outcomes.
Municipal officials must be vetted as there have been many instances of ‘rogue’ officials moving from one municipality to another, leaving a trail of destruction behind them.
It is high-time that a skills audit is conducted in all government departments, municipalities and state entities.
There should be better enforcement of internal controls and monitoring. There is indeed a grave need to inculcate a culture of accountability. If wrongdoing is identified, there has to be a criminal charge for it.
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We don’t want criminals in municipalities as that would severely compromise service delivery.
Princess Phumzile Buthelezi MPL
IFP KZN Spokesperson for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
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