GEORGE NEWS - Not a single audit report by the Audit Committee (AC) of Council has yet served in the George Municipal Council this year. 

Opposition parties lashed out during the council meeting last week Thursday, saying the withdrawal of these quarterly reports from the agenda in May raises serious concerns.

Recommendations to Council on what should be done to heed the instructions of the Auditor General form part of the AC's first report, which never served after the first quarter of 2019. Both terms' reports were then due to serve on 30 May, but the items were withdrawn by the DA.

In last week's meeting the Portfolio Councillor of Finance, Stag Cronje, recommended that both reports serve in July. This was accepted by the DA, along with several other recommendations stemming from the reports. The ANC, PBI and Freedom Front Plus strongly objected and asked how these recommendations could be accepted if the full reports have not yet served in Council.

After each term the AC, who plays a monetary and oversight role to Council, gives its assessment of the previous term. The report includes comment and recommendations on legal issues, service delivery performance, risk and municipal compliance. The AC has a statutory obligation to report to Council and their report must be tabled. It is up to Council whether they want to heed the suggestions.

Municipal Manager Trevor Botha said the items were withdrawn by the DA caucus with a request to the AC to amend its recommendations, as the AC reports were considered to be incomplete, "and not because of irregularities, as is being alleged". Botha said the AC, as an independent advisory body, declined to add anything to the reports that did not pertain to its functions and referred the matter back to Council for resubmission.

"They [the AC] recommended that Council include any additional recommendations in the Council decision should it see fit to do so. The reports will be resubmitted to the next Council meeting."

Strong objections

The ANC asked that at least legitimate reasons be tabled for the withdrawal because of the seriousness of the concerns raised by the audit committee in these items on the agenda.

In a press statement issued by the party, the ANC said the only reason for the withdrawal of the reports is to save embarrassment by not revealing the findings of the AC. "We believe this was an attempt to deliberately paralyse the AC in order not to perform their duty in an effort to disguise wrongful and illegal behaviour, maladministration, wasteful and fruitless expenditure and even corruption."

A letter presented after the council meeting of 20 May by Cronje, who is also the chairperson of the Finance Committee, further enraged the ANC, who claims that this is in breach of the code of conduct for councillors.

"It is an intervention in an oversight authority that is not accountable to him nor the Finance Committee," reads the statement.

PBI leader Virgill Gericke said the professionalism of competent people in the AC is undermined by these actions by the DA and their ethical code is compromised. "We salute the committee members who stand on the principles of justice," said Gericke.

In their statement the ANC listed the following as some of the issues raised by the Audit Committee:

• Unwillingness to supply the Audit Committee with the tools of the trade.
• The inability of the administration to sort out the leave records.
• The absence of senior officials and political office bearers at audit committee meetings.
• The waste of time and money in numerous instances where various section 80 committee meetings had to be cancelled because of no quorums.
• Serious concerns relating to the non-compliance of the performance management system.
• Urging Council to prioritise the complete restructuring / re-composition of the bid committees.
• Serious concerns regarding the supply chain and the implementation thereof.
• The huge number of vacancies which in most departments exceeds 50 percent.
• Significant lapses that occurred in the leadership's responsibility over financial reporting, predetermined objectives, compliance as well as related internal controls.
• Concerns regarding investments that were not made in accordance with the requirements of the investment policy.
• The AC recommended that irregular expenditure as well as fruitless and wasteful expenditure incurred by the municipality be investigated.
• Claims that management did not ensure that policies and procedures governing overtime are in place and effectively managed.
• Serious risks on GIPTN which are not addressed.

Three members of the Audit Committee waiting patiently in the media gallery in Council. From left are Christo Lamprecht, Audit Committee chair Adéle Potgieter and Flip de Swardt. Photos: Michelle Pienaar

'We bring you the latest George, Garden Route news'