Scopa sends national treasury delegation packing

Members of Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) are not happy with National Treasury. Treasury was scheduled to appear before the committee on Wednesday to discuss flaws in government financial procurement processes.

However, a two man delegation pitched up for what MP’s say was a crucial meeting. It was a feedback report for the first quarter of 2018, on deviation and expansion of contracts, by national departments and entities.

This is when departments veer from the terms of contracts and do not follow legislated procedure. Legally, there is room for this practice in emergencies.

However, Scopa believes it is now out of control and wanted answers and updates from Treasury.  “Last year Eskom had the highest, where is Eskom now? Sars, health, Transnet, where are they now, we need to able to do that, if we are not able to do that, then our exercise will not be that effective,” says Scopa Chair Themba Godi.

Before Treasury could get into its presentation, members wanted to know where the department’s Director General was.

“He was here yesterday (Tuesday), I think he has other commitments elsewhere, but of course I am sure protocol may demand that he lodged that apology through the secretary, but we apologise for him,” said National Treasury Acting Chief Procurement Officer Willie Mathebula.

This was not good enough for MPs. “We were looking forward to as a committee I believe to see the executive present today (Wednesday), we have now a new Minister of Finance, we wanted to engage him on the deviations and extensions, which is critical in terms of the procurement process, and becoming the norm and not the exception, we are becoming concerned about that,” said DA MP David Ross.

Inkatha Freedom Party’s Mkhuleko Hlengwa said, “We can’t have these meetings without consequence. There must be cost recovery. If they had come down here from Pretoria for the purpose of this meeting that we are aborting, and the DG is not here, Chair there must be cost recovery, and the DG must be personally liable for it. The taxpayer cannot continue funding these manufactured junkets.”

African National Congress’ Nyami Booi shared the same sentiments. “What type of institution is that. The backbone of our economy – is the one that is giving us a slap in the face, and we are the ones that must be getting excited about that. Then there is something wrong with Parliament. There is something wrong with our consciousness.”

Treasury was sent packing. They have been given until the end of next week, to send a more comprehensive report on the issue to the committee.