By OBAKENG MAJE
A grim picture of corruption and funds misappropriation continues to show its ugly head in the North West Provincial Government (NWPG). This comes after the Public Service Commission (PSC) highlighted that most employees are either doing business with the state or sit on various bid committees to award tenders to their cronies.
The PSC Commissioner in the North West, Dr Moeletsi Leballo said this during a joint meeting with the North West Provincial Legislature’s Standing Committee on oversight of the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL) together with the Standing Committee on Provincial Public Accounts (SCOPA), where the PSC appeared to account on progress registered on cases reported for financial misconduct during the 2020/21 financial year at various departments in the province on Wednesday in Mahikeng, North West.
“We decided to cover the three financial years, which is 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21. Every government employee is expected to fill the financial disclosure form to be scrutinized.
“As the PSC, we have realised that there are many employees, who are doing business with the government or sit in bid committees that award tenders. If they do so, this constitutes conflict of interest,” Leballo said.
He further said this has led many departments to have incurred irregular, unauthorized, wasteful and fruitless expenditure in consecutive years. According to Leballo, more than R76 million (R76 629 940.07) has been frivolously spent during the 2020/21 financial year.
“Also, R1 957 615.20 was squandered during the 2017/2018 financial year and has not been recovered yet. However, only four departments reported financial misconduct cases against their employees.
“The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, reported one employee, while the North West Education also reported one employee. The Office of the Premier reported two employees. These four financial misconduct cases were concluded, but no disciplinary actions were taken against those involved,” he said.
Leballo added that it is a concerning factor to see departments under-reporting financial misconduct cases in the province. He said he is of the view that the accounting officers responsible should be held accountable for non-compliance.
Meanwhile, chairperson of the North West Provincial Legislature’s Standing Committee on oversight of the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL), Jacqueline Theologo said: “We will write a letter to the North West Premier, Bushy Maape to submit a report to the committee within seven days replying to all financial misconduct cases.
“This will assist us to get a complete reflection of what is actually happening. There is discrepancy in the process because not everything is forwarded to the PSC and recommendations are not fully implemented.”
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) in the North West, Papiki Babuile said, corruption is dire in the province and all those who are in power are not there to serve the people, but to execute their own interests.
North West Premier, Bushy Maape said during the State of the Province Address (SOPA) that he had set up a forensic unit that will assist his government to fight malfeasance, corruption and fraud.
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