The South African Secret Services, which conducts crime intelligence, underspent by just over R1,1-million during the financial year ending March 31, 2003, according to the report of the Auditor General Shauket Fakie.
In the report — tabled to parliament, on the “Secret Services Account” which falls under the South African Police Service — the Auditor General says that the service conducted its accounts as required by the Public Finance Management Act.
He did, however, note inadequate financial management with regard to motor vehicle claims, completion of log sheets and loss control and “current arrangements pertaining to the financial process in respect of police agents and bank accounts should be reviewed and documented to create an established approved directive”. Further explanation was not given.
Current expenditure amounted to R60,7-million in the financial year while total capital expenditure amounted to R15,3-million.
The net surplus was R1,1-million which must be surrendered to the National Revenue Fund.
SA Police Service National commissioner Jackie Selebi said that with globalisation of the intelligence community and the new dimension of terrorism “there has been a significant burden on our existing and nearly obsolete technical capacity”.
“The changes in the technological sphere have rendered some of our equipment redundant and created a need for new equipment,” he said. – I-Net Bridge