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The North West Provincial Legislature’s Standing Committee on Provincial Public Accounts (SCOPA) has resolved to call a public meeting for the Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, the Department of Finance, mayors, councillors and management of all municipalities in the province to account on the audit outcomes of the financial year 2010/11.

This came after the provincial Auditor-General’s (AG) office painted a worrying picture on the performance of the North West municipalities in the audit outcomes of the 2010/11 financial year, during a presentation that was done before the Committee.

Business Executive at AG’s office, Schalla van Schalkwyk, said out of the 24 municipalities in the province only nine submitted its financial statements and out of the nine only 5 submitted on time.

Amongst others, he noted the following concerns, that there is no compliance to supply chain management processes when awarding tenders, 76% of municipalities in the province use consultants, mostly due to lack of adequate skills although all vacancies have been filled; Information Technology controls or supporting systems are poorly designed and therefore are producing inaccurate results.

“Officials are not complying with supply chain management processes when awarding tenders, and the awarding of contracts to employees, councillors or other state officials has increased from 24% to 64% in the province.

“For tenders amounting to R355 million, there is no documentation of tenders issued, meaning that there is no proof of compliance,” said Mr van Schalkwyk.

SCOPA Chairperson, Hon. Hlomane Chauke, said, to the Committee disclaimers are a call for action.

“For us disclaimers mean that there must be investigations and those who need to be fired or charged must face the consequences.

“Why is it normal for municipalities to get disclaimers in our province. These service delivery protests are not manufactured but it’s people venting out their anger and frustration,” said Hon. Chauke.

The Committee also noted the fact that most municipalities were under Section 139 in the previous financial years but there has been no improvement in the audit outcomes.

“Our history has taught us one thing, that this Section 139 does not work when you appoint an administrator that lacks experience and knowledge.

“These administrators need to know what made the municipality to fail and then come up with a turnaround strategy that will work. They also need to be monitored and must give monthly feedbacks,” said Hon. Chauke.

The public meeting date will be announced in due course.