PREMIER'S REPLY
Thank you
Madam Speaker
Honourable members,
This afternoon I stand before you to thank, most heartily, members of the Portfolio Committee on Finances and the Office of the Premier.
I thank them for their careful perusal of our submissions and for the considered recommendations they made in accepting the budget proposals we made to this House early this year.
It is clear from the valuable recommendations made by the honourable members of the Portfolio Committee that indeed they studied our proposals very carefully. And that in the end they were satisfied that our budget proposals were in line with government's objectives.
Let me also salute all political parties in this House and thank them for their contributions and recommendations. On our part we shall always put the interest of our people first - black and white.
United, there is little we cannot do in a host of co-operative ventures in our fight against poverty. Divided, there is little we can do, for we dare not meet the powerful challenge of poverty alleviation and job creation at odds and split asunder.
Honourable members Nkuna, Hatch, Mentz and McPherson, we shall not always expect to find you supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find you strongly supporting our quest to work for a better life for all. Let us continue our united task of making Mpumalanga the province it should be.
I am glad to know that you have not for once doubted the commitment and the political will of any of the men and women in my office.
That is why I am delighted to inform you that your recommendation that the budget of Tribal and Regional Authorities should be aligned with my speech, has been implemented.
The government website is in the process of being upgraded and is indeed being updated regularly. We will also forthwith comply with your recommendation that there should be centralised co-ordination of donor management.
Mr Speaker, we will utilise the creative function of BAS and will change some of the headings in the budget wherever possible. On the issue of correlation between the audit component in my office and the office of the Auditor-General, Corrolation, there is agreement.
However it must be remembered that the Auditor General's Office is an institution established in terms of the constitution and national legislation. The office of the Auditor General has a particular function of looking into the finances of public institutions.
The internal audit on the other hand is a management toll aimed at giving early warning signals to the accounting officer and the Premier. It does not form part of the Auditor General' s staff component.
While the Auditor General checks whether the accounting officer is indeed complying with the rules and regulations governing the handling o public finances. The internal audit informs the accounting officer that things are correct or not OK in the office or in a particular public institution.
Mr Speaker, the Auditor General is more than welcome to go through anything checked by internal audit or department.
The Office of the premier will not restrict the Auditor General's access to our spending of public funds. Let me assure you that we will not dictate to the Auditor General on what he should investigate.
We respect the independence of the AG's office. But let me assure you that we will continue to co-operate with his office provided that such arrangement does not compromise the independence of the Auditor General's Office.
Mr Speaker I've noted the concerns raised by the Committee on the Youth Commission. I have taken note of the recommendation that the expenditure of the Commission should come as a transfer from the Office of the Premier and not as a programme.
In principle, I agree with this view. However, there are practical problems. The following can be mentioned.
It would seem that the purport of the Mpumalanga Youth Commission Act did not envisage the Mpumalanga Youth Commission as an independent body or entity.
For example, in terms of the legislation, the Member of the Executive Council responsible for youth affairs, being the Premier, is required to report to the Provincial Legislature annually regarding the activities of the Youth Commission.
The Commission is required in terms of the legislation to report quarterly to the Member of the Executive Council responsible for youth affairs, being the Premier.
And the Premier is required to appoint the Secretary of the Youth Commission who shall act as the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission.
You will remember that, in the case of the Mpumalanga Economic Empowerment Corporation and the Mpumalanga Agricultural Development Corporation, the Chief Executive Officers are appointed by the Boards concerned, in terms of their legislation.
Another difficulty is that if you deal with the Mpumalanga Youth Commission's moneys as a full transfer from the Premier's Office, the Youth Commission must open its own banking account, have its own Chief Financial Officer and must also have other infrastructure as required for a parastatal or other independent entity.
I am not sure whether, in terms of our constrained budget, we can afford to establish such entity.
I have noted that, at National level, the budget of the National Youth Commission, is included in the main division of the Vote of the Presidency, while the expenditure of the National Youth Commission allows for limited autonomy.
It is my view that our legislation will not prevent the devolution of delegated powers to the Secretary of the Mpumalanga Youth Commission to perform certain functions, namely those performed by the Accounting Officer of a Department, or in this case, the Premier's Office.
I have already agreed with the Director-General to start with a process of looking into this limited delegation of powers to the Secretary of the Youth Commission.
In terms of section 36(2) of the Public Finance Management Act, the Secretary of the Mpumalanga Youth Commission is not listed as an Accounting Officer.
Consequently, the Director-General remains the Accounting Officer in respect of all moneys budgeted for the Mpumalanga Youth Commission, despite the delegation which will be made to the Secretary of the Mpumalanga Youth Commission.
I hope that this august House will find this in order as we are bound to operate within the ambit of the Law.
However, I would like to thank the Committee of this House for its valuable comments and contributions in this regard, which should enhance our efficiency and good governance in the Province.
Mister Speaker, we accept the recommendations on the merit bonus and will implement it in due course. Concern was raised on the fact that while there is provision for insurance of subsidised vehicles, government property is not insured.
Let me say upfront that this issue is not within our competency. We will however make a submission to the National Department of Public Works.
Finally Mr Speaker, we must all work to mobilise the masses of our people to be involved in these programmes of social upliftment.
The political parties in particular and other mass based
formations will have to make a special effort to help develop a veritable mass
movement for development and change, to speed up the process towards the
eradication of poverty.
Again we appeal to those who have skills and other resources they can bring to
support the efforts of this movement, to notify especially their municipal
governments of their availability to work for change.
Let me say to you this afternoon, I reach out my hand to all of you and ask that we join together in saying to the people of Mpumalanga: We will unite in action for a better life.
I thank You.