Sorry, we'll try harder next time, says MEC

Local Government and Traditional Affairs Thoko Xasa has apologised profusely to MPLs in the Bhisho Legislature for a report that was described as “an embarrassing cut and paste job”.

There was “no proof-reading of the report nor was verification of the report done. We apologise profusely for that,” she said, adding that the issues would be addressed “and we will try our best to do better with the 2006/07 report”.

Xasa was replying to the debate on the Consolidated Municipal Annual Performance Report for 2005/06 during which she acknowledged that she had sent the report to national minister Sydney Mufamadi and the National Council of Provinces, a report she accepted was “an embarrassment to the department”.

Xasa said other provincial departments had also experienced problems in drawing up the consolidated report while some like Mpumalanga had not even submitted reports.

She said it was not that easy “to get into municipalities” which complicated the issue. It was easier to intervene in some local authorities than others.

“We are also looking into the wasteful expenditure – the committee demanded this as two reports were compiled the first of which was rejected as being “riddled with errors” - and will report in due course on the steps we have taken.

We understand the situation in which we have placed this House”.

Earlier, ANC Mabandla Gogo delivered a stinging attack on the department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs on a consolidated municipal annual performance report saying that: “No homework was done and it was just done to meet the legislative requirements”.

And he said it was “amazing that the officials of the department were not present so that they could understand how we feel”.

Gogo also asked what steps MEC Thoko Xasa had taken against department officials when a copy of her policy speech had been leaked to The Herald and also found in a rubbish bin and also what action she would take against the officials responsible for a report that was “an embarrassing cut and paste job”.

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