Note to Editors: Please find an English soundbite by Cllr Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku here
Yesterday, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Johannesburg wrote to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Hon Velenkosini Hlabisa, Minister of Public Services and Administration Hon Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi and the Auditor General (AG) to intervene and ensure lifestyle and skills audits are conducted on Senior Officials in City of Johannesburg (CoJ).
Due to the scathing key risks identified by the Auditor General in this year’s report, being:
- City employees are not capable, productive or effective in managing the complexity of the CoJ’s issues;
- City assets are stolen, vandalised, fall into disrepair, are hijacked, become obsolete and are not used effectively; and
- City resources are stolen, inappropriately or fraudulently utilised for the gain of suppliers and employees and are not used in the best interest of the residents of Johannesburg.
Last week, the DA wrote to the Executive Mayor with a request to initiate the implementation of lifestyle and skills audits on Senior Officials. We believe this is key to ensure that the City is in the hands of capable, fit for purpose, non-politicised officials.
The fact that the City constantly loses court cases, with cost orders against it, is a stark reminder as to why this is required.
Additionally, the fact that the AG agrees with the sentiments the DA raised over a number of years, shows that we have a serious problem in Johannesburg.
It is an absolute disgrace that the Mayor and his executive had completely ignored a request that was also highlighted by the SIU in their report to parliament.
This is the next step in the DA’s quest to ensure residents of Johannesburg are not taken for granted, and that audit findings from the AG are acted upon.
The DA believes that audit findings are not just “nice to have” but are a valuable tool for accountability and should be utilised as such. We are looking at all available options to ensure accountability.