“Partitipation will ensure accountability”

The mayor of Thulamela Municipality, Cllr Grace Mahosi, urged councillors and traditional leaders to inform people about the problems preventing the municipality from obtaining a clean audit. The municipality only received a qualified audit the past financial year.

She was speaking during the municipality’s public hearing held at the Thohoyandou indoor sports centre last Wednesday. The public hearing was also meant to allow members of the public to comment on the auditor general's report.  

Cllr Mahosi told traditional leaders and councillors: “It is the responsibility of our service providers (contractors), the municipal manager and his team, traditional leaders and members of the council to ensure that we obtain a clean audit.”

Cllr Mahosi also warned contractors to refrain from submitting dodgy credentials when applying for tenders. “Contractors should comply with what they have cited in their bidding papers. They should not just create the impression that they can do a job if they cannot,” she said.

She said the dedication of the municipal management team, Council’s oversight measures, honesty among service providers and customers who paid their debts would ensure that the municipality obtained a clean audit in the next financial year. “If all stakeholders know that they have to account to the public, they will do their job in earnest,” she said.

The Municipal Public Account Committee (MPAC), comprising council members, questioned the municipal management about the setbacks of not obtaining a clean audit in the previous financial year. The MPAC also asked the municipal management if any reasonable steps had been taken to prevent the re-occurrence of the problems.

The municipal manager, Mr Makonde Mathivha, said it was of paramount importance that communities know and understand how the municipal budget works. “In spite of developments, there are still challenges that need to be addressed,” he said.

Some of the problems identified by the auditor general include the municipality’s failure to establish adequate record keeping of property, plant and equipment, the failure to comply with laws and regulations in its operations, and the failure to assess the provision of doubtful debts.

Date:20 March 2014

By: Phathutshedzo Luvhengo

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