The article by Mmanaledi Mataboge (“Shiceka: Hey big spender“, May 21) is centrally aimed at sustaining an attack on the integrity of the Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Sicelo Shiceka.
Her article further seeks to discredit and undermine the professionalism, systems and procedures of the department. The story weaves unsubstantiated allegations and a poor understanding of how government works to paint a picture of lawlessness, dictatorship and anarchy in the ministry and department.
In the article, serious allegations, generalisations and blatant distortions must be challenged on the basis of facts. Firstly, regarding the ministerial vehicle of the former deputy minister. According to departmental records the lease expiry date was March 2010 and the department returned the cars in March 2010 and not in April 2010 as put by the Mail & Guardian. The vehicle was largely used as an escort vehicle in instances where the minister visited areas of violent protests, when that was deemed necessary. The department is fully aware of its administrative responsibility, the provisions of the Ministerial Handbook and the terms of the lease contract.
Secondly, the article provides no evidence to support the allegation that the minister’s mother’s birthday party was funded from state resources. Speaking as the accounting officer in the department, I can say as a matter of fact that this is far from the truth. Not a single cent of the departmental budget funded a birthday party. Official records of the department have not identified any funds that have been utilised for such an event. Should new information arise to show otherwise, we will not hesitate to take the necessary disciplinary steps.
Thirdly, it is a fact that irregular expenditure is a problem in government. However, we are unaware of the alleged irregular expenditure list in possession of the M&G that suggests a total of 58 irregular transactions amounting to R1,8-million.
Like all departments, the department has developed an irregular expenditure register which registers violations that are detected through our internal control mechanisms. It is factually untrue that all the transactions deemed irregular emanate from the ministry. The issue of irregular expenditure is receiving ongoing attention from my office. Since I started acting in the capacity of accounting officer in July 2009, progressive disciplinary action has been taken against officials found to have flouted the rules.
The department is consistently improving its corporate governance and financial management systems and policies. Weaknesses in the system are receiving dedicated attention; but these cannot be equated to the baseless allegations as purported by your journalist.
Lastly, in the interests of responsible journalism, I call upon the M&G to exercise greater circumspection and ensure that journalists do not engage in acts of character assassination and personal attacks without basis, as that can never be in the public interest.
Elroy Africa is the director general of the department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs