DEAR Editor,-
The Oversight Committee of Ugu District Council, which consists of non-executive councillors from all parties represented in council, is already examining the draft annual report on behalf of council. Council will formally note the draft 2012/2013 report at its monthly meeting on January 30, and refer the full report to the Oversight Committee for its opinion and recommendations back to full council.
The municipal manager has a copy of the Auditor-General’s report, which will, after the meeting, form part of the Ugu annual report, but he is unable to tell us what is contained in the report as it is embargoed till the Auditor-General delivers it himself to full council on January 30.
I have a bad feeling about the Auditor-General’s report, as Ugu already has a qualified (bad) report from the previous year. Ugu’s own Audit and Performance Committee, which consists of a local attorney and two chartered accountants, has had sight of the Auditors-General’s proposed audit report and management letter, together with management’s responses.
According to the Ugu Audit Committee report, the Auditor-General’s report implied that the problems at Ugu were pervasive. It seems that we might expect a really adverse finding from the Auditor-General, possibly a disclaimer, and if this happens, it will be very interesting to see if the finding has any effect on the voting patterns in the February 19 Municipal Ward 12 by-election, as well as the national and provincial elections to be held probably after Easter, in May 2014.
The council meeting on January 30 in council chambers is open to the press and public. Come along – all will be revealed!
DAVE SNASHALL
