Govan Mbeki municipal manager promises a good audit outcome
“Give us details on how many councillors’ laptops have been stolen or lost. Has there been any convictions or is it just a fraudulent scheme run by this municipality? We all know that fruitless and wasteful expenditure has become a culture in this municipality,” said Wilson Chauke from the EFF.
The Govan Mbeki municipal manager promised the council a good financial audit outcome from the Auditor-General during the council meeting that was held on Wednesday, August 24.
MM Elliot Maseko said this when councillors from the opposition parties questioned incomplete financial statements presented by the acting executive mayor, Thandi Ngxonono.
Firstly, Ngxonono told the councillors that the municipality is where it is because of the work of the municipal audit committee and said the council should know where they are coming from.
“There was a financial year where our municipality failed to submit its financial statements to the AG’s office, though we appointed a service provider.
“We need to applaud the work of the internal audit committee and the financial team, although there are incomplete components in the financial statements,” said Ngxonono.
DA-councillor James Masango said the council must not allow deviations.
“We are not here for a good show. We need to look at previous recommendations and ask why are we referring something incomplete to the AG’s office?,” ask Masango.
The EFF said the municipal financial statements are confusing.
“These are annual financial statements that show mediocrity. Cllr Ngxonono, you are celebrating mediocrity again by saying the municipality has moved one step better.
“We don’t want to go one step better, we want changes. Our municipality is facing an R200 million deficit while we acknowledge and celebrate the financial improvement.
“Was that deficit funded through a bank overdraft or loans? We need to look at its effect on service delivery,” said Wilson Chauke, EFF councillor.
He raised concerns about the replacement of 48 laptops for councillors.
“What is the lifespan of a laptop? It came to our attention that there were fraudulent claims.
“Give us details on how many councillors’ laptops have been stolen or lost. Has there been any convictions or is it just a fraudulent scheme run by this municipality? We all know that fruitless and wasteful expenditure has become a culture in this municipality,” said Chauke.
Opposition parties demanded that the municipality’s financial statements be referred back.
Maseko vowed to submit complete financial statements to the AG’s office.
The council meeting was rescheduled for Tuesday, August 26, when the council agreed to acknowledge the municipality’s financial statements that were supposed to reach the AG by August 31.
