Debate on the 2022 SCOPA Hearings Report

Hon. Speaker and Chairperson, accountability is a critical expectation of all Hon. Representatives and civil servants.
Hence, the R 53 Billion irregular expenditure and major parts requested for condonation means entering a process whereby the Provincial Treasury “acknowledges the irregular expenditure and pardon the action that has resulted in the incurrence of irregular expenditure”. The huge amounts have accumulated over years and the fact that the special 2021 Adhoc Investigations Committee had sat for a period of 1 year and its report had been concluded, its vital now that decisions have to be made in terms of amounts that should be condoned and those for which there must be consequence management in the various forms that these take.
The MF urges that this 2023 SCOPA report be read together with the detailed report of the Adhoc Investigations Committee set up in 2021 and all resolutions be actioned to fast-tracked. Such actions should clean-up various financial statements. Clear foot-notes, however must be included. Therefore, the Minority Front recommends a joint meeting of SCOPA, Finance, the Adhoc Investigations Committee with other relevant officials to accomplish these tasks.