FS Municipalities fail to account

Wednesday 10 March 2021, 15:04pm / Molefi Sompane 

Free State Legislature Public Accounts Committee Chairperson Vusi Tshabalala: Image Molefi Sompane

By Moefi Sompane: Mangaung and Mafube municipalities were sent back by the Free State Legislature Committee on Public Accounts led by MPL and Chief-whip Vusi Tshabalala for ill preparation of officials.

The two municipalities came underfire for disrespecting the committee.

According to committee Chairperson Vusi Tshabalala Mangaung city manager arrived with CFO only, while Mafube, didn’t send anyone

“Mangaung is still under administration and the committee has instructed it to fix their house with a clear warning,” he said.

Mafube is a local municipality in the Thabo Mofutsanyana district and it’s residents have been accusing it of corruption and lack of service deliver while the mega municipality of Mangaung is also in a disarray state.

Tshabalala, told media that it was important for municipality to take the public accounts committee serious, adding that the committee will not tolerate their conduct.

“Our work is undermined by officials who come to us unprepared and without answers and explanations to our questions. This delay accountability and it has been happening for too long,” he said

Tshabalala also condemned Maluti A Phofung municipality for their failure to submit financial statements for two consecutive years.

“For two consecutive years, Maluti a phofung failed to submit financial statements and no action was taken against that municipality, which was a testimony to the entrenched culture of lack of accountability in our municipalities.

While the committee is dedicated to it’s mandate to hold officials accountable for the monies spend.

Office of the Auditor General reported that Moqahaka municipality doesn’t follow Supply Chain Management processes in issuing of tenders.

Meanwhile Setsoto Local Municipality will also soon have to provide the Public Accounts and Finance Committee with a detailed report regarding vacant strategic positions in the municipality.

This, after they were heavily criticised for not separating the duties of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and the Municipal Manager (MM).

It was revealed before the committee that the Municipality’s CFO Nicolas Lefa Moletsane has been appointed as the Acting MM and has been working in both positions.

Tshabalala, lambasted the municipality for this, highlighting that it is “going to cause serious problems for the municipality”.

Tshabalala said the entire council is liable for the debacle and the municipality must take swift action regarding the position of the CFO and MM.

Moletsane is fulfilling the duties of the Municipal Manager months after the municipality made national headlines over the suspension of Mayor Nthateng Maoke regarding issues with her citizenship.

She was suspended following allegations that she is a Lesotho citizen and was wrongfully appointed by the municipality.