Statement at media briefing by COPE leader of the opposition, Limpopo, Cde Solly Mokhashoa, December 8 2011
CRISIS IN GOVERNMENT
Limpopo Government, under the administration of the ruling party, African National Congress (ANC), is in crisis. This crisis in government has its roots in the crisis in the ANC as they are not able to separate party and state/ government. The five departments that are under administration are all very key service delivery vehicles of any government, Education Roads and Transport, Public Works, Health and Social Development and Treasury.
Four of the five departments (Education, Treasury, Public Works and Roads and Transport) are led by the premier's cronies and members of the top executive of the ANC in the province. Service delivery is compromised and ordinary citizens are taken for granted, denied their basic rights enshrined in the constitution.
The decision by cabinet to put five departments under administration was long overdue. This is the best decision, after the removal of the Ministers of Public Works and of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, ever taken by the government lead by President Zuma. Our province is the fourth largest after Kwa-Zulu Natal, Gauteng and Eastern Cape and is predominantly rural. The government across the country is in crisis because the ruling party is in crisis.
The overspending should have been detected at the legislature level through the relevant committees hold the MECs concerned accountable if proper oversight was exercised. The report presented to the committee on 30 November 2011 reflected that the province was already in the red by over R700 million for the 2011/2012 financial year. The biggest culprit was the Department of Health and Social Development, whose accounting head has been relieved of her responsibilities. The Social Development does not have its own budget but is piggy-pegging on the Health component and cannot even hire its own relevant staff including the Social Workers that we desperately need in this province.
COPE is also pleased that the government has now accepted that Social Work is rare skill and hope that appropriate steps will be taken to take care of this profession. This is the department that benefited mainly the Youth League cronies and that is why they are now alleging that the decision taken is more political and is linked to the forthcoming conference in the province.
The department is present sitting on a R420 million irregular expenditure. R216 million of the R429 million is directly linked to the procurement of medicines in the Pharmaceutical Depot. Only one junior official is suspended and is due to appear before a disciplinary hearing. Our concern as COPE is that why only one official? Was he/she procuring and authorizing payment without the involvement of another official? We are not exonerating the concerned official but just questioning the modalities employed
On-Point Engineering is monopolizing and looting the department of Roads and Transport. They have not overspent but it is run like a spaza shop of a person not ready to gain from it but to while away time. This is the same department whose Traffic Officers are to date not paid for overtime worked. From last year just before the General Local Government Elections, a lot of work was awarded to tenderpreneurs without going to tender even if amounts exceeded R500,000 up to R1 million. This department was used to channel money to the Limpopo mafias in preparation for the conference from the 17 - 20 December 2011. The sun has now set and will never rise again and this means darkness.
The Audit report of the Department of Education is a disclaimer and is the third largest department that overspends. The feeding scheme has been awarded to friends who are musician and officials have been briefed not to divulge any information to MPLs because we tried unsuccessfully to access the information. Let us just wait for the reply to the question submitted.
The recent discovery of some Senior officials in the Department of Agriculture who through the approval of the MEC gave themselves the highest notches ever is unacceptable. It is of serious concern to learn that amongst the officials is the Department's Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and the General Manager: Human Resources (GM: HR). The CFO is the one responsible for finances and authorization of payments of the Department whilst the General Manager: HR is supposed to guide the Department regarding the laws governing such payments to employees.
If these two can mislead the MEC in making payments to themselves, it means they cannot be trusted and are therefore not fit for these offices. As COPE we are not convinced that the MEC are misled in approving these payments. Before any submission is recommended for approval by the MEC, officials are required to present to her the relevant legislation guiding such payments and the financial implications thereof.
Until we are given the submission approved by the MEC, we are not convinced that this is the case. We also call for the MEC to suspend the officials concerned with immediate effect as they impose as serious danger to the Department and investigations be initiated as a matter of urgency.
The biggest problem we have in this country is the type of electoral system we do have at present. There are some good elements though but it needs to be overhauled to allow voters to vote for President, Premiers and Mayors. There is too much emphasis on the party than what the elected public can do and account to the electorates. Voters put the organization into power and the organization imposes mediocrity to them and cannot be challenged other than dancing to the party's musical tune.
COPE is calling for the removal of the entire cabinet of Limpopo Province as the comrades are incompetent in managing government affairs. They have been accused of corruption (and it has been confirmed) that has become a new lifestyle.
Statement issued by Solly Mokhasho, COPE Leader of the Opposition, Limpopo, December 8 2011
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