MPS want oversight of R500bn injection

MEMBERS of Parliament are pushing for more oversight of the R500 billion injected by the government for procurement of Covid-19 items and other supplies following allegations of corruption and looting.

Speaker Thandi Modise also came out in support of Auditor-general Kimi Makwetu investigating corruption linked to contracts and projects of Covid-19.

MPS said they did not want to wait until the end of the financial year before the books of departments and government entities were scrutinised by the auditors.

They wanted to investigate the books and contracts as and when procurement was done.

EFF MP Ntombovuyo Mente told the programme committee they wanted to look at the books in real time and not delay until the end of the financial year when the books were already closed.

The standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) had raised concerns about the R37 million that was spent on the building of a fence at the Beitbridge Border Post saying the money paid did not equal the value of the work done.

Mente said they now needed to scrutinise every deal related to the R500bn announced by the president to fight Covid-19.

“I don’t know if Cedric Frolick (House chairperson) is responsible for portfolio committees for oversight where there is procurement. I don’t want us to be complicit to the fraud many departments are committing. There are special instructions from the National Treasury on how you deal with special procurement,” said Mente.

Steve Swart of the African Christian Democratic Party also called for oversight on Covid-19 funds.

“On our oversight on Covid expenditure, is it possible to have real time audit,” said Swart, adding that Scopa was able to stop the Beitbridge project because of that oversight.

Frolick said it was possible for portfolio committees to have oversight on these funds.

He said some committees had already conducted oversight during the lockdown period.

“Physical oversight is determined by the regulations. The short answer is that it is possible. We are led by the importance of that oversight,” said Frolick.

Modise also stressed the importance of strategic oversight on Covid-19 procurement.

She said the AG was been given more powers to clamp down on corruption. The law was swung into action last year and the AG would have powers to rein in officials implicated in corruption.

“As Parliament, we are behind the AG. We will not be looking at the faces, but facts before us,” she said on investigations done by the AG.

The AG had for years been complaining by lack of powers to deal with corruption.

But MPS said they wanted to intensify their oversight so that they can identify irregularities in contracts and projects early on.

This would help to get the funds on projects identified and not be diverted for other purposes and corruption.

“As Parliament we are behind the AG. We will not be looking at the faces, but facts before us. Thandi Modise SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY