Director-General of DIRCO goes AWOL from SCOPA 

4 March 2015

The Director-General of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), Jerry Matjila, failed to appear before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) today, instead choosing to attend what was referred to as a "statutory commitment" in Zimbabwe.

I will therefore be writing to the chairperson of SCOPA, Thembi Godi, requesting he summon Matjila to appear before the committee at the first available opportunity to adequately account for the state of his department. 

DIRCO was summoned to appear before SCOPA today to account for the poor performance of the department - including a Qualified Audit given by the Auditor-General - and to give details of what corrective action has already been taken, or is to still be taken.

Instead of appearing in person, Matjila sent a delegation led by DIRCO's Deputy Director-General. The delegation, which included the CFO, was unable to answer the large majority of questions asked, which resulted in SCOPA dismissing the delegation on the basis that the DG would be called to appear in person at a later stage.

Not only is this a flagrant disregard of accountability by the DG, but there are also unnecessary cost implications of abandoning the committee hearing. The DIRCO, National Treasury, and the Auditor-General delegations' - consisting of 12 people - incurred fruitless and wasteful hotel and travel expenditure.

The DA will ensure that today's debacle is not used by the DG as an escape route from responsibility, and see it that he accounts to Parliament at the first available opportunity.

Statement issued by Alf Lees MP, DA Spokesperson on the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, March 4 2015

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