Parliament, Wednesday, 23 October 2024 – The Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts, and Culture has voice dissatisfaction with the non-appearance of government officials at critical meetings with the committee that seek to oversee financial expenditure and performance.
The committee dispatched a letter today for the Minister’s attention alerting the ministry to the non-cooperation of senior officials.
The Chairperson of the committee, Mr Joe McGluwa, said the committee is not about to negotiate with officials on how they want to be held to account. “This is very serious and happening for the third time now. If it is not the non-appearance of officials, it is poorly prepared presentations that lack financial performance reporting,” Mr McGluwa said.
“This is against the spirit and principle of the three arms of the state. Nothing will ever be derived through undermining parliamentary oversight. At the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture we want responsive employees who are able to assist entities in their responsibility of service delivery to poor South Africans,” Mr McGluwa said.
On Tuesday, the department’s Acting Director-General and Chief Financial Officer did not appear for a scheduled parliamentary meeting to discuss the department’s annual report. The departmental officials who did attend the meeting were unable to provide answers to the questions asked by Members of Parliament.
Mr McGluwa said the costs associated with the Tuesday’s meeting were a wasteful expenditure that should not to have happened. This was also not the first time the department had failed to fully engage with the committee.
“The committee will not tolerate repeated disregard for its oversight role. In this case, the absence of key officials prevented the committee from obtaining the necessary information on the department’s financials and programmes. As a consequence, the committee made the decision to release the officials who were in attendance, as their inability to address these critical areas rendered the meeting unproductive,” the Chairperson said.
The committee resolved to invite the Minister and other relevant officials to a rescheduled meeting next Tuesday.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON SPORTS, ARTS AND CULTURE, MR JOE MCGLUWA.
For media enquiries, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Mr Sibongile Maputi
Parliamentary Communication Services
Cell: 081 052 6060
Email: smaputi@parliament.gov.za
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