Date: 17/09/2003
Source: Mpumalanga Provincial Government
Title: Mahlangu: Mpumalanga government hard on corruption


MPUMALANGA PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT HARD ON CORRUPTION, MAL-ADMINISTRATION, THEFT, FRAUD AND ANY OTHER CRIME

Pursuant to my commissioning of an investigation by the internal audit unit in the Office of Premier, which was later joined by PriceWaterHouse Coopers, which I received in May 2003, and audits commissioned by the Provincial Government namely:

* Investigations by the Public Service Commission and
* The investigation at the instance of the Auditor General by KPMG

I received both these reports in June 2003. I decided to refer all these reports to the technical committee, which was dealing with the correction of the management and administration in the Department of Health.

As you will all recall on the 31st August 2003, I retired the technical team which was assisting in the Department of Health and appointed new leadership in the Department of Health, that is the MEC and Head of the Department.

I note with appreciation the achievements of the new leadership in the Department of Health namely:

1. The process of filling of the critical posts such as the employment of specialist doctors, Chief Executive Officers of hospitals and senior managers in the department has started.

2. Within a week of assuming the leadership of this department, both the MEC and HOD have visited flashpoint hospitals such as Rob Ferreira, Philadelphia, Bongani and Themba, to familiarize themselves with challenges at these hospitals.

3. The Department is also strengthening its primary health care, through appointments of critical staff especially at community Health Centres and Clinics. Stringent controls and effective administrative systems and procedures will be implemented to promote an effective delivery of health service.

4. In order to strengthen management, the Departmental Executive Management is now meeting weekly. This practice is clearly cascading down to all facilities.

5. Furthermore, to strengthen financial controls and fiscal accountability, the Department has advertised a post of Director Internal Audit whose responsibilities will be to focus on risk management, internal controls and strict adherence to the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and Treasury Regulations.

The department will also ensure that the Audit Committee functions effectively.

6. The office of the Chief Financial Officer will be strengthened through the process of appointment of senior managers in financial and management accounting and revenue collection.

7. In addition the MEC has instructed that there be hospital community outreach activities to make people aware of their rights with respect to hospital services as well as to engage in dialogue with communities on matters central to improved service delivery at health facilities.

I am further happy to announce that the Provincial Government has acted on the three reports commissioned by it namely:

* The new leadership in the Department of Health has charged all suspected wrongdoers named in all three reports, nine of them with misconduct and they will be appearing in the Tribunal on the 25th September 2003.

* I am further delighted to announce that the rest of the provincial departments have also decided to take steps on the suspected wrongdoers in the Department of Health as raised in reports namely:

* Two officials will also appear before the Tribunal of the 30th September 2003 for their alleged involvement in the wrongdoing within the Department of Health. These are officials from the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment.

* The Office of the Premier is also charging one senior official with disciplinary hearing with the same alledged wrongdoing in the Department of Health according to the reports. This official is scheduled to appear on the 25th September 2003.

Concerning those officials who are also alleged to have committed crime or offences in terms of the three reports, their matter will be referred to the Provincial Commissioner for investigation and action

I want to inform the public that these forensic reports were not initiated by any Political Party including the DA, but by the Provincial Government itself. It is surprising that the DA in particular wants to claim the limelight of dealing with the reports and falsely alleged that some of the reports were in the possession of the Premier as far back as early this year.

As stated this is false and must be rejected with the contempt it deserves.

We hope the members of the other political parties in this Province will join us in this and not seek to be opportunistic by claiming to seek information contained in forensic reports, which are still being processed for what they were intended for, by the Provincial Government.

I want to assure the public in this Province and the country that the government I lead is committed to clean administration, good governance, service delivery, fight against corruption and maladministration.

This trend of charging wrongdoers has been followed consistently since I ascended to power in June 1999, namely that 1375 instances were reported to the Hotline in the Director-General's office and 144 officials were charged, convicted and dismissed from June 1999 to March 2003.

In conclusion, I want to congratulate MEC of the Department of Health and Head of the Department of Health for the good work they have done within a short space of time.

Thank you

Enquiries: Joy Letlonkane 082 331 0503/013 766 2292, Dumisane Mlangeni 082 569 4111/766 3253
Issued on behalf of Premier NJ Mahlangu by Communications Directorate, Office of the Premier, Nelspruit, 17 September 2003