Question NW2491 to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
08 December 2016 - NW2491
Holomisa, Dr BH to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
(1)What steps has she taken to (a) monitor and (b) correct (i) the tangible capital asset register (ii) irregular expenditure (iii) organogram and (iv) reported failures as indicated by the Auditor-General in respect of the corporate services branch of her department; (2) has she called the Deputy Director-General to account for the poor performance in the corporate services; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) is there a policy regarding consequences for poor performance; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (4) has the irregular expenditure indicated in the 2015-16 report of the Auditor-General been reported to the National Treasury, if so, what action has been taken regarding the individuals responsible for the specified expenditure?
Reply:
(1) What steps has she taken to (a) monitor and (b) correct (i) the tangible capital asset register (ii) irregular expenditure (iii) organogram and (iv) reported failures as indicated by the Auditor-General in respect of the corporate services branch of her department;
Response:
(i) Assets Management:
(a) Monitoring: A permanent assets management unit has been approved by the Executive Committee. This unit will ensure that all assets of the department are fully accounted for all the times.
(b) Correction: During 2015/16 Financial Year, the assets register was reconstructed and reconciled with annual financial statement. The remaining item is the finalisation of the verification process which is currently at 80% completion.
(ii) Irregular expenditure:
(a) Monitoring: The registers have been compiled for each of the years and these are reconciled to the annual financial statements.
(b) Correction: The Irregular and Fruitless and Wasteful expenditure dates back to 2013/2014 financial year. The Financial Misconduct Panel has been formed and approved by the Accounting Officer. The Panel has been tasked to expedite the investigations. The timeline given by Executive Authority is 15 January 2017.
(iii) Organogram
(a) Monitoring: The organogram is closely monitored by HR with continuous engagements with branches concerned.
(b) Correction: The ideal organogram has been developed by the Department and continuous engagements with DPSA are in place.
(iv) Reported failures by AGSA
General failures as noticed by AGSA are as follows:
- Percentage of staff attending training
- Lack of consequence management to staff without Performance Agreements.
- Vacancy Rate on funded posts
- Non adherence to 30 days payment rule
(a) Monitoring: All of the above are presented at monthly management meetings. Where gaps may exist, action plans are put in place to correct such.
(b) Correction: The skills audit will be completed by the end of quarter four. All SMS performance agreements except for one, are in place. With the current funded structure where posts favours administration, a rebalancing exercise is being undertaken by the Department to address capacitation of Service delivery branches. This is being done whilst a consultative process is in place with DPSA. The issue of 30days payment rule is being addressed by re-looking and changing the invoice handling exercise.