12 Mar 2020

Parliament has approved the 2020/21 financial year budget proposals for the Auditor General as presented by the Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Dumizweni Mthimkhulu.

Mr Mthimkhulu proposed P95 504 510 and P1 050 000 as recurrent and development budgets respectively.

He said recurrent budget would be spent on salaries and allowances, internal and external travelling, general expenses and supplies as well as training.

The development budget is to complete the procurement of additional automated audit management software as well as Integrated Data Extraction and Analysis Software.

He explained some key milestones attained this year in the restructuring of the office had been the establishment of the Performance and Specialised Audit function and its elevation to a fully- fledged division.

Additionally, he said two new divisions were formed, Policy Research and Development Division as well as the Specialised Audit Division, which positioned the office to efficiently and effectively deliver on its mandate.

In their debates, some Members of Parliament such as Dr Never Tshabang of Nkange, said the Auditor General should be fully independent and not be appointed by the president to enable the people holding the office to execute their duties without fear or favour.

Dr Tshabang said there should be internal promotions, saying he wondered how the Assistant Auditor General’s post should remain vacant.

For his part, the Vice President and Boteti West MP Mr Slumber Tsogwane said the office should be allocated adequate resources for it to be able to do its duties.

He said governance could be strengthened through the recommendations from the Auditor General, adding further that it should also guide them to save funds. ENDS