By Obakeng Maje

North West-The deep-cutting report of the Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, on abuse of public funds in the North West Department of Finance, confirmed the concerns of the NW DA over a prolonged period of time, the Democratic Alliance said in their statement.  

The NW SCOPA in addition also had to endure considerable criticism from the NW Executive for embarking on an investigation involving the Public Protector, The Public Service Commission, The Auditor General and the Hawks (SAPS) in the abuse of public funds by the North West Treasury.

Advocate Thuli Madonsela emphasized her concerns that in a country where 51% of people are living below the poverty line and 39 million are depended on grants, public funds could be wasted on such a scale as in this case.

Madonsela also raised her concern that more than R500 000 was paid to a legal firm just to formulate charges in a disciplinary case and confirmed that this type of abuse is rife in Departments not only in the North West,but country-wide. 

“In her summary of the report Adv. Madonsela frequently used word such as improper conduct, abuse of power, flawed, unlawful, and acting against the constitution and treasury regulations and maladministration” DA Tiaan Kotze said.

DA said she(Madonsela) also announced that certain aspects of the case, including possible collusion and fraud are being investigated by the HAWKS.

“The DA is in full support of the recommendations contained in the Public Protector Report including the remedial action directed at the Premier which includes disciplinary action against certain officials” Kotze said.

The DA said is mindful of NW practices, both at local and provincial level, to use blank cheques to get rid of deployed ANC cadres when their political usefulness have been exhausted – in many instances being the root of the behaviour described by Adv. Madonsela.-TDN

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