The Archive Centre. Photo by Dale Hes

Mpumalanga’s Archive Centre can house only 3% of all government archives and cost more than R150 million to construct. The question now stands how much more will the remaining 97% cost taxpayers to house?

The Democratic Alliance’s James Masango said in a press statement on 23 May 2013 that there is so far no explanation from the Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation why this complex only has the capacity to hold 3% of the province’s records nor what will become of the remaining 97%.

“The DA’s doubts stem from the provincial archive building just outside Nelspruit, which, since its announcement by former MEC Dinah Pule in 2008, has cost the province over R150 million to construct. Yet, it is still not finalised, three years after the proposed completion while MEC Sibongile Manana requests a further R5,6 million to furnish it in stages,” Masango said.

The Archives Building was met with a cloud of doubt back in 2011 and Advocate Patrick Ellis said in a report, that foul play was suspected.

The DA issued Ellis’s findings in a press release dated 20 August 2011 and stated that Premier David Mabuza’s ex-wife Ruth Silinda benefited from the building of the archive building contract. In the scathing 26-page memo, Ellis said: “The report of the commission of inquiry is a disaster.”

The press release reads that Silinda’s company Lumkani and joint venture partner Stefanutti were awarded the contract to build the archive centre without the process being opened for competitive bidding.  “The department claimed that going out to tender – the contract had been awarded ­before but cancelled – would place the site at risk of flood damage. Preparation of the site and construction of the building were ­separate. Ellis criticised the ­department’s decision to split the contract in the first place. The initial contract of R94 million jumped to R164 million when it was awarded to Lumkani/Stefanutti JV,” the press release read.

Responding to questions from The Write News Agency, the Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation spokesperson Sibongile Nkosi said the building will be able to house all the qualifying records created by public and non-public bodies.

“For a record to qualify as an archive it must be at least 20 years or older in terms of the Archives act and in the past, National Government was storing such records. This administration is 19 years old so from next year few records will be due for archiving.”

Answering the looming question regarding the housing of the remaining 97%, Nkosi said each creating office must properly take care of its records until they are due for archiving. Nkosi said the building is expected to open in the 2013/14 financial year.

Regarding the alleged overspending and delay of construction of the center, Nkosi said the information is incorrect because “any money spend was appropriated by Treasury.” – The Write News Agency

The Kruger National Park continues to bear the brunt of the poaching, with 242 rhino having been killed in the National Park since the beginning of the year.  In the North West province a total of 29 rhino have been poached, while 28 have been poached in Limpopo, 33 in KwaZulu-Natal and 17 in Mpumalanga. The Gauteng province lost its first rhino to poaching this year during the past week.

The number of people arrested in relation to rhino poaching has risen from 98 to 106. The majority of these, 101, were at the level of poacher, with the rest being receivers.

South Africans are urged to report incidents of poaching and tip-offs to the anonymous tip-off lines 0800 205 005, 08600 10111 or Crime-Line on 32211.

Rhino poaching statistics

Rhino poaching arrests statistics

Mpumalanga MEC for Finance, Madala Masuku. Photo by Dale Hes

The Mpumalanga Provincial Government has vowed to intensify the lax fight against fraud and corruption within its ranks during the 2013/2014 financial year.

Premier David Mabuza revealed on Tuesday, 21 May, that 212 cases of fraud and corruption had been reported to his office in the 2012/2013 financial year.

Of these cases, only 99 had been investigated and concluded.

“We could not investigate all the cases in time due to limited personnel. However, we are in a process of ensuring that all vacant posts are filled in the (Premier’s) Office. This will assist us in fast-tracking the investigation of the reported cases,” Mabuza said.

Mabuza added that, during the 2013/2014 financial year, the Office would commit itself to launching a Provincial Anti-corruption Council and a Fraud Prevention Plan.

“In addition, we have also trained 40 officials in five Departments on Anti-Corruption initiatives,” said Mabuza.

Mpumalanga MEC for Finance, Madala Masuku, in his Policy and Budget Speech in Mbombela on Thursday, 23 May 2013, said that his department would also implement measures to combat fraud and corruption.

“We have piloted an electronic fraud prevention system to improve the integrity of our financial management system. The Luminet and Safetyweb systems will assist in ensuring that payments are made out to the right person, eliminating the opportunity for fraud and corruption in financial transactions,” Masuku explained.

Masuku admitted that there had been “deliberate manipulation” of financial systems within government, particularly in the area of supply chain management.

“Due to lack of capacity and, in some cases, deliberate manipulation of the systems, the Provincial Government has cut-off the participation of government officials from supplying services to their departments,” Masuku stated.

Masuku indicated that progress had been made in the area of Risk Management and Fraud.

“We issued Guidelines on Fraud Risk Assessment and assisted departments in the implementation thereof,” said Masuku.

Masuku called on the public and government to join forces and protect South Africa’s resources from plunder.

“We can choose to join the tsotsis and plunder, or we can be the indomitable Bruce Lee’s and the brave SAPS good cops this time and fight against this bad tendency,” Masuku urged. – The Write News Agency

According to the report, unauthorised expenditure across Mpumalanga municipalities has increased from R384,2 million during 2010/11 to R747,2 million in 2011/12. This is an increase of 94,4%. While wasteful expenditure increased from R10 million in 2010/11 to R26, 957 million in 2011/12 and shows an increase of 169,57%.

The good news is that irregular expenditure decreased by 12,8% from R285,2 million in 2010/11 to R248,6 million in 2011/12. Overall in 2010/11 wasted money amounted to R679,4 million and in 2011/12 amounted to R1.022 billion showing an overall increase of 50,5%.

Auditor General, Terrence Nombembe identified three key challenges during a presentation on Municipal Audit Outcomes in the Mbombela Legislature on Wednesday, 22 May. These include vacant key positions or key officials lacking appropriate competencies; lack of consequences for poor performance and transgressions and slow response by political leadership in addressing the root of poor audit outcomes.

Democratic Alliance leader, Anthony Benadie said these figures clearly show the deteriorating state of our municipal administrations.

“For unauthorised, irregular, and wasteful expenditures to have increased by 50.5% to over R1 billion is a serious issue that warrant immediate intervention. We are very disappointed and concerned about how these ANC led municipal officials are robbing the poor of opportunities and hampering service delivery through their actions.” – The Write News Agency

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