Resolutions and other Outstanding Business; Groups and Chairperson's Report Back: adoption

Meeting report

STANDING COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ACCOUNTS
14 November 2003
RESOLUTIONS AND OTHER OUTSTANDING BUSINESS; GROUPS AND CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT BACK: ADOPTION

Chairperson: Mr F Beukman

Documents handed out:
Resolution by SCOPA Group 2 (awaited)
Resolutions by SCOPA Group 1 (awaited)
Department of Arts, Culture, Science & Technology: Mismanagement of Public Monies and Irregularities (awaited)
SCOPA Members Draft Resolutions (awaited)

Summary
The Committee considered resolutions tabled by its two Working Groups. All resolutions were accepted unanimously but the report of the SCOPA Public Investment Commissioners was sent back as incomplete.

Minutes
Ms Mothoagae (ANC), representing Group 2, went through the resolutions submitted by her group. All the resolutions were accepted unanimously.

Mr Cobus Botes (SCOPA) went through the resolutions submitted by Group 1 and those by SCOPA.

The Draft resolution on Public Investment Commissioners raised a few problems.
Paragraph 10.2: Monitoring prformance or return of each investment, including but not limited to the non-standard structured investment products.
Ms Mothoagae pointed out that the paragraph dealing with the Isibaya Fund was 'left hanging' and needed to be looked at again.

Paragraph 5.1: Inability to procure skilled and competent staff
Mr Gumede (ANC) pointed out that the public sector had to be unequivocal about the need to attract competent staff and had be prepared to compete with the private sector. This issue should not be seen as a problem but as a challenge.

Paragraph 6: Investment mandates
Mr Nair (ANC) pointed out that there were no specific mandate parameters. He asked that definite mandates be given, especially on how to deal with lost moneys and the monitoring of funds by the PIC.

The chairperson pointed out that these were very important concerns and that Mr Cobus should go back and make the necessary changes to the SCOPA submission.

Mr Nair made a presentation on the mismanagement of public monies and irregularities in the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology and the State Theatre. He stressed that the Committee was not an investigative arm. He also highlighted the importance of protecting whistle blowers to encourage people to come forward with information.

The meeting was adjourned.