Western Cape Education Department Raises the Bar on Control Procedures | Western Cape Government

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Western Cape Education Department Raises the Bar on Control Procedures

20 November 2006
Statement by Ron Swartz, Head of Education in the Western Cape.

The Annual Report 2005/06 of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) provides a record of concrete achievements, a record of work in progress and the challenges we still face as we seek to provide quality education for all in the Western Cape.

The meeting of the Standing Committee on Education reviewed the highlights of the year in its meeting on Friday, 10 November 2006.

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) will review the report of the Audit Committee and department's financial statements today (Thursday, 16 November 2006).

While we have reported on many excellent achievements, we have also noted that the report of the Auditor General reflects an organisation under strain.

While some key findings relate to technical issues around auditing processes, we are pleased to note that they do not involve financial mismanagement, over-expenditure or financial losses.

The AG's report has identified weaknesses in our administration and control systems, and we have already taken steps to address them.

We note the comments of Shauket Fakie, our retiring Auditor-General, who said on the SABC this morning that his department wished to "raise the bar" to ensure excellence in service delivery by government.

We certainly subscribe to this view. We are rising to his challenge. Our objective is an unqualified audit report for the 2006/07 financial year.

Steps we have taken to address concerns of the Auditor General include the following:

  • We have established an Audit Monitoring Committee to review findings and recommendations, and to monitor steps taken to address control weaknesses.
  • We have amended the performance agreements of programme managers to include matters relating specifically to the auditing environment.
  • We have taken specific action on matters of detail mentioned in the AG's report, including qualified items, matters of emphasis, and "value for money" issues.
  • We have already engaged the AG and the Provincial Treasury on preparing for the 2006/07

The Audit Monitoring Committee includes a representative from the Treasury. It will report to the MEC and the department's top management on a regular basis.

Our action on qualified items has included improving the process of reconciling records kept on different systems. We have sought further guidelines on how to present information required by the AG.

We are strengthening our Service Delivery Agreement with the Department of Public Works and Transport.

We are also reviewing the process involved in allocating resources to our HIV/AIDS programme to look at ways of further improving management and monitoring of the programme.

Preparations for the 2006/07 audit include:

  • Procedures for managing and presenting documentation;
  • Obtaining further guidelines on certain accounting procedures;
  • An interim audit to provide early warning of any difficulties; and
  • Engaging a consortium to assist us in preparing interim financial statements.

 

Media Enquiries: 

Gert Witbooi
Media Liaison Officer
Office of the MEC for Education
Western Cape
Tel: 021 467 2523
Fax: 021 425 5689
Email: gwitbooi@pgwc.gov.za
Visit our website: http://wced.wcape.gov.za