The newly established Municipal Public Accounts Committees (MPACs) are confusing Makana officials. Councillors don’t understand how the overlapping functions of the new committee and the existing committees will be regulated.
The newly established Municipal Public Accounts Committees (MPACs) are confusing Makana officials. Councillors don’t understand how the overlapping functions of the new committee and the existing committees will be regulated.
Makana chief financial officer, Jackson Ngcelwane said there is still a need to clarify the relationship between the new committees and the existing portfolio and oversight committees in the Makana council.
Ngcelwane told the budget, treasury and integrated development plan committee that the MPACs were developed to monitor and oversee the use of public funds. MPACs will develop thorough reviews of the municipality’s annual report and the auditor-general’s report.
Ngcelwane said that the new system is being piloted in municipalities around Gauteng and would soon be rolled out to other areas.
Wait & see
Councillors adopted a "wait and see" approach until next month’s meeting.
Ngcelwane addressed the committee after attending the Institute of Municipal Finance Officers (IMFO) annual conference in Cape Town last month. During the conference, outgoing IMFO president, Victor Chuene warned against “a false sense of security with arrangements”, where municipalities share internal audit functions on the grounds that such arrangements do not include "specialised inquiries". Cacadu district municipality uses this approach.
Chuene told delegates that internal auditing should be the municipality’s first line of review when things don’t go according to plan.
The IMFO offers training opportunities, guidelines on public-private partnerships and helps municipalities to address issues such as the backlog of debt payments from government departments and special workshops. It also works directly with the South African local government association.
