Parliament, Monday, 15 February 2021 – The Ad Hoc Committee on the Section 100 Intervention in the North West Province is of the considered view that there are compelling reasons to extend the section 100 intervention in North West Province.
“The committee agreed that the number of outstanding matters that have a direct bearing on the terms of reference of the intervention is enough grounds for the extension. The intervention should only leave the North West when those areas are satisfactorily addressed, especially for the benefit of the people of the province,” said Mr China Dodovu, the Chairperson of the committee.
What is important is that the extension of the intervention will be reviewed closer to the June 2021 deadline of the extension to ensure that all unresolved matters are dispensed off with.
The committee welcomes the consequence management against twenty-eight senior managers that have faced or are still facing disciplinary processes related to financial misconduct, fraud and corruption as well as dereliction of duty. Despite this, the committee is concerned that there has been little or no movement in criminally prosecuting those identified to be allegedly in the wrong.
“The Inter-Ministerial Task Team (IMTT) had assured the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) in December that the recent capacity improvements within law enforcement agencies and the National Prosecution Agency would have provided the necessary impetus to prosecute those in the wrong. It is in this context that the committee remains worried by lack of action,” Mr Dodovu said.
In response, the committee has as part of its programme scheduled an interaction with the Special Investigating Unit, Asset Forfeiture Unit and the NPA to get an update on the causes of delays in prosecuting alleged wrongdoers.
It is also concerning that a number of senior manager positions, especially those of heads of departments, are vacant, something which will negatively affect the ability of the turnaround process to succeed. “A head of department directs both the strategic and performance pillars of a department; hence it is crucial that those vacancies are filled urgently to ensure stability in the province,” Mr Dodovu said.
The committee welcomes information of the steady turnaround regarding good governance and financial management. This will also include the reduction in irregular expenditure to R3.484 billion from R4.72 billion. But the committee resolved to wait for a full financial report from the National Treasury and the Auditor-General on cash flow challenges in the province and their impact on service delivery.
Meanwhile, the committee is concerned about reports of hostility towards the Inter-Ministerial Task Team, which has a potential to derail the progress achieved so far. The committee has urged both the IMTT and the provincial administration to actively work together to improve relations to ensure the achievement of the objectives of the intervention.
Also, the committee will engage the National Council of Provinces regarding the extension of the section 100 intervention and implication on the mandate of the committee. The NCOP will give direction on the matter as the NCOP is constitutionally obligated to oversee the implementation of the intervention until it is lifted.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE AD-HOC COMMITTEE ON SECTION 100 INTERVENTION IN NORTH WEST, MR CHINA DODOVU.
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