Frank Maponya

Limpopo's department of sports, arts and culture has been ordered to compile a list of documents pertaining to unauthorised expenditure apparently for the Melting Pot Festival in 2002.

This comes after Deliwe Nyathikazi, head of departmen, was on Monday unable to account for money that was spent without authorisation.

The Limpopo standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) ordered Nyathikazi to "get your house in order" so she could provide convincing answers when they meet again on Monday next week.

Scopa warned that though Nyathikazi had not been an employee of the department at the time, she is an accounting officer and should acquaint herself with the activities of the department.

Nyathikazi, who attended the meeting in the company of senior officials from the department, appeared nervous and was unable to respond adequately to questions.

She referred some questions to Jacob Rapholo who was head of the department at the time of the festival.

Rapholo said he had left the relevant documents in the possession of the late Joe Ndlovu, who acted as head for eight months after Rapholo and held the office before Nyathikazi.

The department suspended six senior officials last month following allegations of financial mismanagement during the festival.

Among other questions Scopa inquired into about R519551 that was used but not accounted for.

It was also discovered that R373140 had been withdrawn on November 22 2002, but that there was no indication where this money had been channelled.

Acting Scopa chairman Rob Tooley warned that should Nyathikazi fail to provide the required documents, she would be "dealt with harshly".