FIRST THE BILL THEN THE QUOTE - AG REVEALS MORE GAUTENG HEALTH MISMANAGEMENT

Invoices for services were submitted for payment before quotations in a number of instances revealed by the Auditor General in yet another damning report on the Gauteng Health Department.

This report was recently tabled in the Gauteng Legislature. It investigates supply chain management at the department for the period 1 April 2006 to 30 March 2008.

The report criticizes numerous violations of procurement procedures, including lack of competitive bids, unsigned approval forms and the award of contracts to companies that did not score the highest points in evaluations.

According to the report "no evidence of the budget approval certificate was provided for audit purposes for 14 suppliers/vendors amounting to R1.4 billion, which ranged from R85 616 to R1 billion."

Furthermore, "no evidence of a valid tax clearance certificate was provided for audit purposes for 20 of the 25 suppliers/vendors selected."

No justification could be found for awarding two contracts worth R5.7 million in total, and another two contracts worth R43.4 million in total did not go to the companies with the highest points.

An invoice for R385 776 for measles pamphlets was submitted on 2 May 2007, but the quote for this was only sent on 13 July 2007.

Similarly, an invoice for R314 640 worth of aprons is dated 1 February 2007, while the invoice is dated 22 February 2007.

The AG also complained that the department refused access to certain documents and did not allow some assets to be physically verified, including a camera and a camcorder which were purchased for the Head of Department.

The AG rightly criticizes "inadequate leadership oversight" and calls for an investigation into all irregular expenditure and appropriate action taken against those responsible.

This report shows yet again the abysmal lack of financial controls that enabled corruption to flourish when this department was headed by Ms Sybil Ngcobo and MEC Brian Hlongwa.

There needs to be accountability in this matter and recovery of irregularly spent money wherever possible.

It is high time that former HOD Sybil Ngcobo is tracked down and questioned rigorously so that as much as possible of the rot is revealed and punished.

Statement  by Jack Bloom  MPL, DA Gauteng health spokesman, October 25 2010

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