Dit laat 'n mens dink - Rdl. Nico Botha

Die Uitvoerende Burgemeester het onlangs in die Kouga-raadsaal met trots aangekondig dat die munisipaliteit ‘n “ongekwalifiseerde” ouditverslag ontvang het vir die 2008/09-finansiële jaar. As raadslid en lid van die oorsigkomitee het ek insae in die konsep-jaarverslag gehad.


Voorheen het Jan Publiek, oftewel die belastingbetaler, groot vertroue in die bevindings van die Ouditeur-Generaal gehad. Enige verslag behoort egter in konteks gelees te word om die inhoud daarvan ten volle te verstaan.


Tans is die 2008/09-jaarverslag van die Kouga-munisipaliteit ter sprake. As inwoner moet u kennis neem van alle opmerkings in die verslag sodat u kan kennis neem van die ware toedrag van sake.


Enkele opmerkings in die verslag van die Ouditeur-Generaal word vervolgens ter inligting aangehaal:


“Emphasis of matter
Without qualifying my opinion, I draw attention to the following matters.


Unauthorized, irregular or fruitless and wasteful expenditure
9. As disclosed in note 43.1 to the financial statements, unauthorized expenditure to the amount of R2 million was incurred due to the following:
• Overpayment to a deceased employee’s dependants/estate
• Credit facilities for credit cards


10. As disclosed in note 43.2 to the financial statements, fruitless and wasteful expenditure to the amount of R24.8 million was incurred due to the following:
• Late payment to creditors
• Late submission of the Employer Reconciliation Declaration to SARS
• Payments for the termination of a director’s contract and for the suspension of directors for prolonged periods
• Tender awarded to a contractor for the remedial work due to poor workmanship by the original contractor
• Illegal dumping activities.


11. As disclosed in note 43.3 to the financial statements, irregular expenditure to the amount of R37 million was incurred during 2008/09 due to the following:
• Non-compliance with the MFMA
• Supply Chain Management Regulations deviations including irregularities over the competitive bid process where the signature of municipal officials was forged on requisitions.


16. Contrary to section 32(6)(a)&(b) of the MFMA the accounting officer has not reported to the SAPS all cases of alleged irregular expenditure that constituted a criminal offence and theft and fraud that occurred in the municipality.”


Ek sou heelwat meer kwessies vir u uit die verslag kon aanhaal. Op bladsy 109 verskyn daar byvoorbeeld die name van persone wat transaksies met familielede gesluit het Die verslag praat van “transactions with close family members of persons in the service of the state.”


Die vraag is: wat beteken ‘n “ongekwalifiseerde ouditverslag”? Moet dit die belastingbetalers tevredenheid en gerusstelling gee? Die antwoord hierop is n onomwonde nee.