PAC grills PS on unspent millions

ZOLANI KRAAI
Correspondent | Friday June 7, 2013 00:00

He told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that the money was not used in the last financial year because of abnormalities. He was put to task to explain why the ministry has put measures in place to control expenditure in local authorities while it continues to return unspent money to the treasury. Kanye South MP Kentse Rammidi ask the PS if he has observed the luxurious spending by local authorities. The MP gave the example of Chobe District Council that has purchased two top of the range vehicles worth P2 million.

In a low voice, Matlhare who nearly choked on his answer admitted to the abnormalities saying the ministry has and is continuing to orientate local authorities on the proper accountability and proper expenditures to avoid over-spending. He said the type of luxurious spending in Chobe affects other votes that facilitate planning on other important development projects. He said they continue to advise local authorities especially those in the urban areas to consider hiring private cars to run daily errands because they do not require four by four vehicles.

Matlhare said the proposed draft policy on decentralisation was found unsatisfactory as it did not meet the set terms of reference. 'We however paid them (consultants) the amount of P298,000 for the work done, and we are yet to identify another expert to do the job,' he explained to the amusement of Rammidi who went on to ask whether the ministry advertised the work locally or internationally. Matlhare accepted that it would be ideal to do so and promised to take the action. Rammidi told the PS that some of the millions of unspent money could have been used to pay allowances to the headmen of arbitration in the Ipelegeng scheme.

'The money that you returned could have been utilised in catering for the headmen under the Ipelegeng rather than returning it. They actually fall within the category of Ipelegeng even though they are queuing up for recruitment at the Kgotla, but their daily hearings of matters entitle them to such allowance if need be,' Rammidi said. The ministry's records show that there are about 600 headmen in the waiting list of unpaid allowances.Matlhare explained that there are several factors that are taken into consideration when upgrading headmen. Usually, stand-alone villages are considered first. He promised that the ministry will look into the matter again in the future.