Draft Minutes of Proceedings

The Speaker explained that the Public Audit Act had come into operation in December 2004. This Act replaced the Public Arrangements Act which had created the Audit Commission as the body exercising oversight over the Office of the Auditor-General. The Public Audit Act effectively abolished the Audit Commission and, in turn, provided for the establishment of an oversight mechanism. In order to fill the vacuum created by the abolition of the Audit Commission, the National Assembly had as a temporary arrangement established an ad hoc Committee on the Auditor-General.

Mr Hahndiek indicated that the Public Audit Act identified in general terms what the oversight mechanism should do, namely, to assist and protect the Auditor-General in order to ensure the independence, impartiality, dignity and effectiveness of that Office, and to advise the National Assembly. The Act also specified a number of particular functions which the oversight mechanism should perform.

The Speaker said that the Rules Committee should therefore guide the House regarding the nature and form of the oversight mechanism. She mentioned that at some of her meetings with the Auditor-General, it had transpired that there had been discussions in the ad hoc committee on Public Auditing Function (the committee that introduced the Public Audit Bill) regarding the nature of the envisaged oversight mechanism. She asked that staff access the documents of that ad hoc committee with a view to obtaining the relevant information.

Mr Gibson said that his understanding was that the proposed mechanism would play a role similar to the one played by the erstwhile Audit Commission. He asked how often the Audit Commission had met and whether the proposed mechanism could be expected to meet as frequently. In response, Mr Hahndiek indicated that the Audit Commission had been an external body and therefore enquiries would be made in that regard.

Mr Nel supported the proposal for the accessing of deliberations of the ad hoc committee on Public Auditing Functioning, specifically those that concerned the nature and function of the proposed mechanism. He added that it was also necessary to learn from different individuals and structures who had been involved in the process leading up to the promulgation of the Public Audit Act. He proposed that the current ad hoc committee on the Auditor-General be asked to prepare a brief report (2 to 3 pages) on its experience in carrying out its functions. This would be helpful in deciding on the nature of the envisaged oversight mechanism. The Speaker, while agreeing with Mr Nel’s suggestions, stressed the need for a speedy conclusion of this matter as the Auditor-General was justifiably anxious to have the matter finalised.

The Speaker indicated that the Rules Committee should meet again on this matter before the next recess. Mr Hahndiek pointed out that the next meeting of the Rules Committee had provisionally been scheduled for 8 June. The Speaker asked that relevant documentation in preparation for that meeting should be made available to members by Friday, 3 June.

Agreed: