To download the soundbite of the SCOPA Chairperson, Mr Mkhuleko Hlengwa, please click https://iono.fm/e/1317823
Parliament, Tuesday, 6 June 2023 – The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) today decided to suspend its meeting with DENEL due to the absence of the DENEL Board.
SCOPA was scheduled to receive a briefing from DENEL on the non-tabling of its annual report and its liquidity crisis. DENEL was also to update the committee on irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure and on other outstanding matters. The committee was also to receive an update on investigations conducted by the Special Investigation Unit.
The committee sent a letter to DENEL via the Department of Public Enterprises on 23 May 2023 indicating that DENEL should appear before the committee today. Last week the Chairperson of SCOPA received an undated letter from the DENEL Chairperson indicating that she is abroad and would be unavailable. However, she committed to ensuring that the Board would be represented at today’s meeting.
At the start of the meeting this morning, the committee heard from the Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises, Mr Obed Bapela, that no Board members were present. The committee could not proceed with the meeting as the Board is the accounting authority and the body that should brief the committee. It is a dereliction of duty on the part of the Board not to make arrangements to appear before the committee as scheduled.
The committee has rescheduled the meeting with DENEL to Wednesday, 14 June 2023, where the Board is expected to attend. In the event that the Board does not attend, the committee will ask the Speaker of the National Assembly to issue subpoenas to the DENEL Board on the committee’s behalf.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF SCOPA, MR MKHULEKO HLENGWA.
For media enquiries, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Ms Faith Ndenze
Parliamentary Communication Services
Tel: 021 403 8062
Cell: 081 377 0686
Email: fndenze@parliament.gov.za
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