Concerns over poor expenditure of conditional grants

Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) MEC Basikopo Makamu expressed concern about poor expenditure of Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) and other conditional grants resulting in delayed and deferred provision of services to communities which subsequently leads to community unrest.
He was delivering his department’s budget vote speech at the Provincial Legislature last Thursday. Makamu stated that some of the challenges they are experiencing in this area are due to insufficient attention to development, disruptions of projects implementation by communities, poor forward planning and protracted supply chain management processes. He further emphasised that his office was equally concerned about municipalities that continuously receive disclaimers and adverse audit outcomes.
Makamu said these negative audit outcomes are a result of the slow response by the leadership and management in improving key internal controls, addressing risk areas such as key officials lacking appropriate competencies, poor implementation of audit remedial plans and inadequate consequences for poor performance and transgressions. He reiterated that his department together with Provincial Treasury were working hand in glove to monitor and support the six municipalities that received disclaimer and adverse audit opinions. The municipalities are Fetakgomo-Tubatse, Modimolle-Mookgophong, Mopani, Thabazimbi and Vhembe, he explained.

Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za