Note to Editors: Kindly find attached soundbites in English by Gavin Edwards MPL, Setswana by Winston Rabotapi MPL (Caucus Leader), and Afrikaans by Jacqueline Theologo MPL. The full document that was discussed during the press briefing, is attached.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in North West will, in terms of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, Powers, Privileges and Immunities Act and Financial Management of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act, lay charges against the Speaker in the Legislature, Sussana Dantjie and others, for the alleged misappropriation of funds, irregular appointment of senior managers and tender fraud.
In light of serious allegations concerning the irregular appointment of the CFO, Thabo Lehutso, Acting Executive Manager, Edwin Chaane, ongoing outsourcing of financial services at an exorbitant cost and also payment for a data management system that is not functional, it is imperative that in-depth investigations be launched to ensure that corruption in all its shapes and forms, is exposed.
The fact that no action was taken towards addressing unauthorised, fruitless and wasteful expenditure, is not only a display of the accounting authority’s disrespect for public funds, but also conveys their lack of interest in the implementation of consequence management measures.
The DA is of the view that the oversight mechanism, being the Standing Committee on the Oversight of the Legislature, dismally failed in its mandate of ensuring that the accounting authority is held responsible for the gross mismanagement of this entity.
The 2018/19 report by the Auditor-General (AG), cited inadequate procurement processes and lack of policies and procedures concerning procurement as the reason why close to 100 politically connected companies have been awarded contracts.
The irregularities in procurement processes saw contracts worth more than R2 million procured without inviting the minimum prescribed number of written price quotations, applicants not meeting tax requirements and tenders simply not awarded to the lowest bidder.
The evident abuse of power and misappropriation of funds necessitates us to lodge complaints with the Public Protector, Integrity Commissioner, Public Service Commission and the South African Police Service (SAPS) to ensure that this matter is treated with the utmost urgency.