Committee Programme

Meeting report

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS STANDING COMMITTEE
12 February 2002
COMMITTEE PROGRAMME

Chairperson: Dr Gavin Woods (IFP)

Documents handed out:
Structural rearrangement of SCOPA
Workload for 2002
Short-Term Programme: Auditor General's reports

SUMMARY
The Committee will meet next Tuesday to discuss future working relations in the Committee. It was proposed that the meeting be held in camera.
There have been some delays in the tabling of audits of reports from certain Departments. The Committee requested the Auditor General's office to submit the reports as soon as possible.

MINUTES
Dr Woods said that the Committee did not function as it should have last year. Those problems do not automatically go away. He referred to a letter he had addressed to Members asking that they contribute their analysis of how to resolve the problems, and a commitment to resolve those problems.

Ms Taljaard (DA) said that the DA was very supportive of the sentiments expressed in the letter. Last year was highly unpleasant.

Mr Vincent Smith (ANC) responded that the ANC needed to refer the letter to its caucus study group. While the letter was premature, it was a good initiative after their experiences on the study tour. He proposed that they discuss the letter the following Tuesday.

Mr Nasithela (ANC) suggested they hold an in camera meeting without the press

Ms Taljaard said she had no objection to a closed meeting, but a joint press briefing/statement should follow.

Dr Woods commented that SCOPA would meet tomorrow to work on the reports outstanding from
last year. Between 160 and 180 reports are received annually from the Auditor General's office.

A representative from the office of the Auditor General's office said that there were delays in finalising the audits of reports from the Departments of Public Works, Communications and Land Affairs, which have been heavily qualified.

Dr Woods responded that despite the difficulties, there is a statutory requirement to submit these reports within six months after the financial year-end. Would the office of the Auditor General please submit them as soon as possible.

The short-term programme of the Committee was discussed for the remainder of the meeting.

The meeting was adjourned.