By More Matshediso
Pretoria – The North West government has revived its Provincial Operation Clean Audit Committee (POCAC), which will help municipalities across the province to get clean audits.
The Provincial Department of Local Government and Human Settlements on Monday said the committee is assisting municipalities with their records and information management systems.
In his budget speech last week, the department’s MEC Collen Maine announced that his office will continue to support and strengthen the Municipal Public Accounts Committees (MPAC) in all municipalities.
He said the department, in partnership with the Department of Arts, Culture and Traditional Affairs, has already started training municipal officials for records management.
“The department is in the process of assessing the audit action plans and performance agreements of senior managers to establish if all Auditor-General issues have been addressed and incorporated, with the view of strengthening good governance, public participation and sound administration,” said MEC Maine.
MEC Maine said his department is in the process of conducting a skills audit to establish the skills gaps at senior and strategic positions in municipalities, and to determine whether officials were appointed to the appropriate positions.
“Action will be taken in cases where councils have appointed senior managers in contravention with the Municipal Systems Amendment Act and regulations.
“Enforcement of policies, by-laws and forensic investigations are to be conducted in Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, as well as Matlosana, Tswaing, Maquassi Hills, Mahikeng and Ditsobotla local municipalities,” he said.
MEC Maine said the forensic investigations are being implemented in terms of Section 106 of the Municipal Systems Act, on allegations of fraud, maladministration and corruption.
He said his department will also visit all local municipalities to verify if ward committee meetings and community meetings take place and to assess the quality of the meetings.
Completion of Provincial Disaster Management Centre
Meanwhile, the Local Government Department has announced that the first phase of the construction of the Provincial Disaster Management Centre will be completed soon.
The centre, which costs R15 million, is being established to improve the work done by Disaster Management.
“The construction of this centre in Mahikeng, which is in line with the Disaster Management Act, will be on-going in this financial year. This project will take the duration of 18 months,” said MEC Maine.
He said his department will provide municipalities with the necessary tools of trade to correctly respond when disaster strikes.
“Five municipalities will be supported with fire fighting vehicles and equipment. R2.1million will be allocated to Mamusa Local Municipality, R700 000 to Naledi Local Municipality and R4.2 million to Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality (NMMDM), for purchasing of fire engines” he said.
NMMDM will be allocated R325 000, while Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality and Bojanala Platinum District Municipality will each receive R625 000 for disaster management support.
MEC Maine said they want to build capacity within the fire and rescue services in municipalities in order to improve service delivery and save lives and property.
“Community based fire awareness campaigns will also be conducted to ensure that our people are empowered to deal with emergencies before the arrival of the professionals,” MEC Maine said. - SAnews.gov.za
