Pretoria – The Gauteng Department of Education says it has a responsibility to investigate any allegations of corruption or mismanagement that comes to its attention through various channels.
The department has expressed concern at media reports that suggest the efforts aimed at rooting out corruption and maladministration are a waste of money.
A newspaper reported today that the department has “blown millions on audits”.
According to the department, the article is based on a response provided by the MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi, on 15 September 2014. The questions were in relation to forensic audits conducted at schools.
“Forensic audits are instruments used to deal with misuse of public funds and corruption.
“The work of the department in this regard needs to be seen in the context that the department has a responsibility to investigate any allegations of corruption or mismanagement that comes to its attention through various channels, including whistle blowing, the Presidential and Premier’s hotlines as well as the anti-corruption hotline,” the department said.
Various pieces of legislation oblige the department directly or indirectly to investigate, take action, and put in place controls to ensure financial prudence in the management of public funds.
“The department allocates money to schools to fund curriculum delivery. It therefore has a statutory obligation to ensure that these funds are spent as intended by the Public Finance Management Act with good governance and accountability.”
The MEC said it seemed there was a double standard on corruption.
“It is unfortunate that the Democratic Alliance are the ones complaining about a process aimed at strengthening accountability, transparency, and financial prudence”, MEC Panyaza said.
“Over and above this exercise being a statutory obligation, the investigations are done in the spirit of protecting the tax payers money,” he said.
The MEC emphasised that the department is committed to clean governance at schools and has put in place a number programmes of to improve the financial maturity framework at school level.
The department has mentoring and coaching programmes provided on financial management through the Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance to School Governing Bodies.
The department is currently finalising regulations to standardise financial reporting for schools. The department also conducts regular impact assessments of the training provided by evaluating schools on particular financial indicators.
In his response to the Legislature, MEC Panyaza indicated that the department had conducted forensic audits at less than 1% of its schools per annum.
“We are committed to clean governance, transparency, and oversight and we will comply with any request that will not have an adverse effect on service delivery and the provision of quality education to all learners in Gauteng,” the MEC said. – SAnews.gov.za
