Premier’s Office accounts to SCOPA
Scopa also noted with concern the regression of audit outcomes over the last three years in the province from 2013/14 up to 2015/16 and the fact that seven departments received qualified audits in 2016/17.
POLOKWANE – Limpopo Premier, Stanley Chupu Mathabatha, was castigated by the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) for financial statements with material misstatements being submitted to the Auditor-General (AG).
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Other matters discussed were the irregular expenditure during the last three years. It was also found the previous year’s (2016/17) financial statements were not prepared in accordance with the prescribed financial reporting framework.
The Office of the Premier replied the corrected misstatements only related to their annual performance reports.
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With regard to irregular expenditure, amounts of R222 000 (2015/16) and R23 000 (2013/14) were incurred in contravention of supply chain management regulations and an amount of R3,7 million was incurred due to non-compliance with Public Service Regulations pertaining to incentives for personnel.
The province’s contingent liabilities are currently amounting to R6,5 billion after lawsuits were filed against several departments in the province.
The departments with the highest liabilities are agriculture (R2,9 billion) and health (R2,4 billion). Irregular expenditure in the province amounted to R7,6 billion.
Scopa also noted with concern the regression of audit outcomes over the last three years in the province from 2013/14 up to 2015/16 and the fact that seven departments received qualified audits in 2016/17.
Scopa said there should be recovery of unauthorised payments of accelerated pay progression made to government officials during 2015/16 and corrective measures taken against officials responsible for the errors.
