[South Africa] Joint committees find payroll irregularities at Amajuba District Municipality

In South Africa, the joint oversight committees - including the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Standing Committee on Public Accounts, and the Standing Committee on the Auditor-General - have raised serious concerns over payroll irregularities at Amajuba District Municipality, Zawya reports.

They disclosed that two individuals were being paid for a single councillor position, leading to wasteful and potentially unlawful expenditure. The committees stated that such an irregularity exposes significant weaknesses in financial oversight and administrative accountability at the municipality.

The committees reportedly learnt about the issue during an engagement with the municipality as part of their four-day joint oversight visit to KwaZulu-Natal, focusing on municipalities identified by the Auditor-General of South Africa as distressed or dysfunctional.

They announced that the Amajuba District Municipal Manager, as accounting officer, bears full responsibility for ensuring proper payments and adherence to council resolutions. The mayor, speaker and deputy mayor also received criticism for inconsistent and inaccurate information regarding councillor numbers and payroll, further undermining public trust.

The committees stated that failure to address such irregularities constitutes serious governance lapses. They further called for the MEC responsible for cooperative governance and cooperative affairs to conduct a thorough investigation of this significant concern.

The Municipal Manager reportedly committed to recouping the overpayments and enforcing proper payroll processes. The committees emphasised that all individuals responsible for authorising or facilitating the improper payments will face strict consequences. Immediate corrective action will be taken to protect public funds and restore credibility to the municipality.

Source: Zawya

In South Africa, the joint oversight committees - including the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Standing Committee on Public Accounts, and the Standing Committee on the Auditor-General - have raised serious concerns over payroll irregularities at Amajuba District Municipality, Zawya reports.

They disclosed that two individuals were being paid for a single councillor position, leading to wasteful and potentially unlawful expenditure. The committees stated that such an irregularity exposes significant weaknesses in financial oversight and administrative accountability at the municipality.

The committees reportedly learnt about the issue during an engagement with the municipality as part of their four-day joint oversight visit to KwaZulu-Natal, focusing on municipalities identified by the Auditor-General of South Africa as distressed or dysfunctional.

They announced that the Amajuba District Municipal Manager, as accounting officer, bears full responsibility for ensuring proper payments and adherence to council resolutions. The mayor, speaker and deputy mayor also received criticism for inconsistent and inaccurate information regarding councillor numbers and payroll, further undermining public trust.

The committees stated that failure to address such irregularities constitutes serious governance lapses. They further called for the MEC responsible for cooperative governance and cooperative affairs to conduct a thorough investigation of this significant concern.

The Municipal Manager reportedly committed to recouping the overpayments and enforcing proper payroll processes. The committees emphasised that all individuals responsible for authorising or facilitating the improper payments will face strict consequences. Immediate corrective action will be taken to protect public funds and restore credibility to the municipality.

Source: Zawya