Eastern Cape MPLs embarassed over report

The Bhisho Legislature’s Local Government and Traditional Affairs committee today urged MPLs to reject the Consolidated Municipal Annual Performance report, describing it as an “embarrassing cut and paste job”.

And it also said that the fact that the first report had been rejected as it had been found to be “riddled with errors” amounted to “wasteful expenditure” demanding that the MEC probe the reason why two reports were tabled, who was responsible and what steps would be taken against them.

Further, the committee said Eastern Cape Local Government and Traditional Affairs MEC Thoko Xasa must report to the committee within 30 days how the issue of the wasteful expenditure would be dealt with.Presenting the report, committee chairman Lulamile Nazo (ANC) said that it was both “vague and embarrassing” and did not meet the requirements of the Municipal Systems Act.

The report must, among other things, identify under-performing municipalities “and specify measures that are going to be put in place to assist them”.

Both Xasa and the department’s superintendent-general Sindisile Maclean had signed the report.

Replying to questions, Xasa said her department was looking at what steps it could take to rectify the situation and was investigating through a service provider how “to come up with a proper report” adding that it was hoped this could be provided within 30 days as demanded by the committee and it would be “better”.

She acknowledged that what “an official” had done was a “cut and paste job” and was an “embarrassment” to the department.

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