This will be done to provide assurance and limit potential irregular expenditure timeously before the awarding of these tenders. MEC for Finance, Motlalepula Rosho, says in her budget speech the pre-auditing further seeks to improve accountability. It follows after the premier, Job Mokgoro, revealed that the Hawks are investigating 46 cases in the Provincial Government and the SIU is scrutinising 44 cases.

At least 20 senior managers, among others, are facing disciplinary processes across various departments. During her tabling of the provincial budget, Rosho says the Provincial Treasury has introduced programmes which promote monitoring and enforcement of Audit Actions Plans to ensure that Departments and Public Entities are held accountable. OFM News previously reported that Mokgoro announced in his State of the Province Address (Sopa) that the Hawks have also placed 10 cases on the court roll for trial while a further 15 were pending as a result of further investigations - all of which involves monies amounting to R2,497 billion.

Rosho says relentless oversight with punitive measures to culminate into consequence management will be intensified by conducting investigations, identifying losses to the state and holding officials accountable. Meanwhile, the opposition parties in the province, which include the official opposition, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), heavily criticised Mokgoro after he revealed that the SIU and Hawks were hard at work investigating several cases against municipalities and departments.

The EFF’s Shakes Botswe said despite 44 cases implicating officials in the province, no action has been taken against them. Instead, they are being rewarded with positions in the provincial legislature. Botswe said Mokgoro’s government has no clear plans on how to tackle the scourge of high unemployment in the province.

Today Rosho announced that the investigative capacity will be established in Provincial Treasury to assist departments and entities to conduct independent investigations and fast-track recommendations relating to current and previous years’ irregular expenditure.

OFM News