Metro pursue officials to recover over R200-million in irregular expenditure

The Tshwane metro has approved MPAC reports for recovering R246-million in irregular expenditure during the 2023/24 financial year.

The Section 79A Committee recommended irregular expenditure of R246-million be recovered in the 2023/24 financial year after instances where municipal funds were expended without proper authorisation or in violation of established financial protocols during recent fiscal years.

The Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC), under the leadership of the chairperson, and councillor Kholofelo Morodi says that the move is a great step in ensuring public funds are used to help the public.

“Today marks a crucial step in our ongoing efforts to ensure that every rand of public money is spent responsibly and in accordance with our laws and regulations. The irregular expenditures identified in these reports undermine public trust and detract from the resources available for essential services. By taking decisive action to recover these funds from the officials responsible, we are sending a clear message that financial mismanagement will not be tolerated in the city of Tshwane,” Morodi said.

Section 79 committees conduct oversight over the Mayoral Committee.

The Section 79 reports detail a wide range of irregularities including procurement processes that bypassed competitive bidding requirements to irregular expenditures incurred without the necessary approvals among other irregularities.

Morodi said the MPAC investigation and analysis have been instrumental in identifying these discrepancies and formulating recovery recommendations.

“The recovery process will be conducted in a manner that is guided by legal frameworks and municipal policies. Each identified case will be pursued with due diligence, ensuring that the recovery of funds is executed efficiently and effectively. The officials found responsible for these irregular expenditures will be held accountable in accordance with the law, and appropriate disciplinary measures will be instituted as necessary,” Morodi said.

Morodi also said that the MPAC acknowledges the importance of installing measures to prevent future occurrences of such irregular expenditures.

The committee will be engaging with various municipal departments to implement these measures including enhancing internal controls, reinforcing financial management frameworks, and providing comprehensive training to officials on compliance and ethical conduct in financial matters.

Morodi said this demonstrates the MPAC’s commitment to serving and protecting metro residents as well as public resources.

“The MPAC’s actions reflect a steadfast commitment to fostering a culture of accountability and integrity within the city of Tshwane. The committee will continue to monitor financial activities rigorously and take all necessary measures to safeguard public resources. Tshwane remains dedicated to serving its residents and ensuring that municipal operations are conducted with the utmost transparency and responsibility. Residents and stakeholders are encouraged to remain engaged and informed about the municipality’s efforts to promote good governance and financial stewardship,” Morodi said.

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