North West reviews structure of provincial SOCs

Friday, February 23, 2018

The North West province has started a process to review the current structure of provincial state owned companies (SOCs).

“In line with the Presidential process on the rationalisation of state owned entities, the Executive Council has initiated a process to review the current structural make-up of provincial state owned entities,” said Premier Supra Mahumapelo on Friday.

Delivering the State of the Province Address (SOPA) at the Marikana Community Hall in Rustenburg, Premier Mahumapelo said the ultimate outcome of the process will be establishing the People’s Economic Growth Agency (PEGA).

The PEGA will house all developmental and economic mandate in the province.

“The process of establishing PEGA is underway and the first critical milestone will be reached by 31st March 2018. We would like to assure all affected that we will do everything possible to ensure that no jobs are lost as a result of the creation of PEGA,” said the Premier.

The Premier’s comments come hot on the heels of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) that government will initiate a process to review the configuration, number and size of national government departments.

Lifestyle audits

Meanwhile, the province will embark on a process of lifestyle audits in support of the President’s announcement in the SONA.

“In supporting what President Ramaphosa said during the State of the Nation Address, the province will embark on an important exercise of lifestyle audits across the board commencing with all the politicians and the head who is the Premier in this regard, will be the first one to be attended to,” said Premier Mahumapelo.

Premier Mahumapelo said the lifestyle audit report, will be ready for public perusal by the end of April 2018.

Fight against fraud and corruption

In addition, the province is set to do its bit in the fight against fraud and corruption.

In last year’s SOPA, the provincial government committed to strengthening the Provincial Forensic, Ethics and Integrity Forum which is comprised of members from the Hawks, South African Police Service (SAPS),  Auditor General, and Office of the Premier, among others.

The province has since then initiated and obtained a Presidential Proclamation in collaboration with the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) to conduct investigations in the Department of Public Works and Roads relating to allegations of corruption.

“We welcome the emerging urgency to support the fight against greed, crime and corruption particularly in the public sector. In this context we urge former political heads of Departments (MECs) and former Heads of Departments (HODs) to make themselves available to assist with whatever information required to speed up investigation processes in those departments.” - SAnews.gov.za