The poor quality of responses submitted by the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) departments to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) reflects incompetence, disregard for accountability, and a complete failure of consequence management.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng takes oversight and accountability seriously and demands that Premier Panyaza Lesufi start holding his executive to account. He must make sure that when departments are failing to provide proper resolutions the Head of Departments (HOD) are called to order.
SCOPA plays a critical oversight role by holding departments to account for findings raised by the Auditor General and in annual reports. Questions are put to departments in the form of house resolutions, requiring clear and responsible answers detailing what corrective action will be taken.
Resolutions remain open until SCOPA is satisfied that a department has accepted responsibility and committed to resolving the issue. If the response is weak, vague, or evasive, the resolution stays open.
Several departments have failed to provide credible responses, with the following number of resolutions remaining open:
Infrastructure Development: 8 out of 8
Community Safety: 15 out of 19
Gauteng Enterprise Propeller: 8 out of 13
Agriculture and Rural Development: 6 out of 6
Transport: 6 out of 13
Health: 15 out of 23
Medical Supply Depot: 7 out of 7
Office of the Premier: 2 out of 3
The Department of Community Safety, under the leadership of Premier Panyaza Lesufi, is one of the worst performers. Its responses lacked sufficient detail and failed to explain why officials responsible for adverse events were not disciplined. Instead, the excuse of cases being sub-judice was given. Furthermore, the department admitted that there is a lack of capacity to recover debts, while also admitting to internal e-mails being tampered with. This is a serious indictment of leadership at the highest level.
A DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government would ensure that departmental responses to SCOPA are properly scrutinised, fact-checked, and reflect a commitment to transparency and responsibility. Substandard replies would not be allowed as this discredits the executive. Gauteng residents deserve honest answers, competent leadership, and firm action when things go wrong. Premier Lesufi’s government continues to fail them on all fronts.