NORTH West MEC for local government and traditional affairs Paul Sebegoe is concerned about the performance of municipalities in the province.
Only 10 out of 24 municipalities in the province have submitted their financial statements for audit.
Addressing the media yesterday, Sebegoe, pictured, said a lack of improvement in audit outcomes and timely submission of financial statements could only be attributed to inadequate tone-setting by mayors and councillors.
He said there was a lack of continuous review and monitoring of action plans to address all previous year audit findings and significant internal control deficiencies.
"A shortage of skilled officials in appropriate positions, especially finance, will be my top priority," Sebegoe said.
He also said inadequate record management and inability to produce quality financial statements had a serious impact on the progression of the municipality.
Last week Auditor-General Terence Nombembe told the legislature that the main reason for non-submission by most municipalities and regressed outcomes was inadequate human resource planning, which gave rise to leadership vacancies or suspensions. Nombembe said that resulted in capacity constraints in the key finance portfolios of municipalities.
The province is one of two where more than half of the municipalities did not submit financial statements for audit within the legislatedperiods.
"This has adverse implications for the timely exercise of oversight by those charged with governance and may defer the opportunity for accelerated movement towards achievement of clean administration," Nombembe said.
Democratic Alliance leader Chris Hattingh raised concerns over this regression.
"The department's crisis has deepened. Lack of capacity caused by vacancies and deployment of incompetent ANC cadres has led to a state of financial anarchy," he said.
"It is clear that no improvement of the management and financial situation of the municipalities will happen before capacitated, qualified and experienced personnel return to local authorities. This will require the ANC to stop the devastating deployment of incompetent cadres."
MEC promises to crack down on lax councils
NORTH West MEC for local government and traditional affairs Paul Sebegoe is concerned about the performance of municipalities in the province.
Only 10 out of 24 municipalities in the province have submitted their financial statements for audit.
Addressing the media yesterday, Sebegoe, pictured, said a lack of improvement in audit outcomes and timely submission of financial statements could only be attributed to inadequate tone-setting by mayors and councillors.
He said there was a lack of continuous review and monitoring of action plans to address all previous year audit findings and significant internal control deficiencies.
"A shortage of skilled officials in appropriate positions, especially finance, will be my top priority," Sebegoe said.
He also said inadequate record management and inability to produce quality financial statements had a serious impact on the progression of the municipality.
Last week Auditor-General Terence Nombembe told the legislature that the main reason for non-submission by most municipalities and regressed outcomes was inadequate human resource planning, which gave rise to leadership vacancies or suspensions. Nombembe said that resulted in capacity constraints in the key finance portfolios of municipalities.
The province is one of two where more than half of the municipalities did not submit financial statements for audit within the legislatedperiods.
"This has adverse implications for the timely exercise of oversight by those charged with governance and may defer the opportunity for accelerated movement towards achievement of clean administration," Nombembe said.
Democratic Alliance leader Chris Hattingh raised concerns over this regression.
"The department's crisis has deepened. Lack of capacity caused by vacancies and deployment of incompetent ANC cadres has led to a state of financial anarchy," he said.
"It is clear that no improvement of the management and financial situation of the municipalities will happen before capacitated, qualified and experienced personnel return to local authorities. This will require the ANC to stop the devastating deployment of incompetent cadres."
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