Question NW883 to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
08 May 2017 - NW883
Van Der Walt, Ms D to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
(1)With reference to the Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler (KPMG) forensic report commissioned within the Bela-Bela Local Municipality and finalised in May 2016, (a) when will the report be tabled before the Council Bela-Bela Local Municipality and (b) what amount did it cost to compile the forensic report; (2) were any of the report’s recommendations implemented; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) do any of the report’s recommendations include the institution of criminal charges; if so, against whom; (4) what are the reasons for ignoring the Promotion of Access to Information Act application to receive the forensic report; (5) will any action be taken against officials who have not performed according to their job descriptions; if not, why not; if so, what action?
Reply:
The following response was provided by the municipality:
1. (a) The KPMG forensic report was tabled before Municipal Council on the 15th of September 2016.
(b) The cost of the compilation of the forensic report is R959 593.55.
(2) All of the report’s recommendations were implemented. Further, legal opinion was obtained regarding the matter and its subsequent recommendations were also implemented by putting in place all the applicable corrective measures as espoused in the reports. The Municipal Public Accounts Committee subsequently prepared a report as duly mandated by Municipal Council and submitted the report for Council’s consideration on 27 January 2017.
(3) There is a recommendation with regard to the institution of criminal charges against one of the Joint Venture Company whose termination was also a subject of investigation. However, the matter is still being dealt with by the courts and thus sub duce.
(4) According to the municipality, there has never been an instance where Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application pertaining to the KPMG was ignored. The municipality has consistently provided the same response to everyone requesting the report that until such time that all Municipal Council processes are duly concluded, the report remains the confidential report of Council.
(5) The forensic investigation did not find any official(s) that had not performed their responsibilities as espoused in their respective job descriptions.