The DA in Mpumalanga calls on the MEC of Community Safety, Security and Liaison Vusi Shongwe to quantify the revenue lost when receipts from regional authorities for licenses issued were not deposited into the department’s bank account.
It has emerged that between 2016 and 2019, the department did not have a functional financial system to reconcile bank deposits with receipts from its regional offices.
The ANC administration in this department demonstrated blatant disregard for treasury regulations. According to treasury standards, the department committed financial misconduct.
Therefore, the MEC and the accounting officer of the institution must ensure that disciplinary proceedings are carried out in accordance with the relevant prescripts. Previously, the Auditor General, called on the accounting officer to evaluate and specify total revenue lost during this period.
The department’s alleged lethargic approach in dealing with this matter is concerning. As a department responsible for crime prevention, we expect them to view this matter in a serious light and crack the whip on officials implicated in any wrongdoing.
The ANC’s continuous flouting of the Public Finance Management Act has disrupted the functionality of our departments. The DA would like to reiterate that the department has a mandate of ensuring that its revenue fund has sufficient money at all times for appropriated expenditure and direct charges to meet the progressive cash flow requirements.
Throughout the years, the department has been riddled with nothing but corruption and nepotism allegations. It is high time for the MEC to rise above factionalism and restore order to make sure that the rule of the law is upheld.
We will not sit back idle and while ANC aligned public servants who exposed the department to millions in financial losses get away scot-free.