Following a stakeholder meeting hosted by SCOPA on 13 March 2025 and revelations of intimidation against MPAC Chairpersons and members, I would like to urge MPAC members to report any and all forms of intimidation and victimization to the South African Police Services (SAPS).
The meeting, which included among others, representatives from the Auditor-General of South Africa, Public Protector, Gauteng Treasury, SCOPA, Public Service Commission, Chairpersons of MPAC Committees from Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and Emfuleni as well as Organisation Against Tax Abuse (OATA), was intended to help improve governance and accountability in Municipalities.
Whilst sharing challenges encountered and successes achieved, it emerged that public representatives who are entrusted with conducting oversight on public finances are often intimidated.
The stark realities that have led to the failures, especially of local governments, were raised and the prominent challenges MPAC committees face in that their recommendations are largely ignored and that when MPAC committees are robust, either the Chairperson is removed or the Committee members are intimidated. This poses a very serious cause for concern as these are constitutional and legislative mechanisms that are meant to protect the public purse.
The issues raised were not new to me as I had heard the same issues raised during another workshop I had held with the West Rand Speakers’ forum and MPAC Chairs in November 2024 in Randfontein. I wrote to the Chairman of the COGTA Committee in which I raised these challenges and concerns as raised in the two workshops indicated above.
It is clear that at local government level, officials who hold senior positions within political parties can instruct Councillors like their subordinates, thus placing their positions as public representatives under threat if they do not ‘tow the line’.
Unless the performance of MPAC and SCOPA committees is improved and their roles respected to beef up Municipal and Provincial governance and accountability, we will not turn the fortunes of Gauteng around.
SCOPA Deeply Concerned by the Intimidation of MPAC Members, Calls for Strengthening of the Rule of Law
Following a stakeholder meeting hosted by SCOPA on 13 March 2025 and revelations of intimidation against MPAC Chairpersons and members, I would like to urge MPAC members to report any and all forms of intimidation and victimization to the South African Police Services (SAPS).
The meeting, which included among others, representatives from the Auditor-General of South Africa, Public Protector, Gauteng Treasury, SCOPA, Public Service Commission, Chairpersons of MPAC Committees from Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and Emfuleni as well as Organisation Against Tax Abuse (OATA), was intended to help improve governance and accountability in Municipalities.
Whilst sharing challenges encountered and successes achieved, it emerged that public representatives who are entrusted with conducting oversight on public finances are often intimidated.
The stark realities that have led to the failures, especially of local governments, were raised and the prominent challenges MPAC committees face in that their recommendations are largely ignored and that when MPAC committees are robust, either the Chairperson is removed or the Committee members are intimidated. This poses a very serious cause for concern as these are constitutional and legislative mechanisms that are meant to protect the public purse.
The issues raised were not new to me as I had heard the same issues raised during another workshop I had held with the West Rand Speakers’ forum and MPAC Chairs in November 2024 in Randfontein. I wrote to the Chairman of the COGTA Committee in which I raised these challenges and concerns as raised in the two workshops indicated above.
It is clear that at local government level, officials who hold senior positions within political parties can instruct Councillors like their subordinates, thus placing their positions as public representatives under threat if they do not ‘tow the line’.
Unless the performance of MPAC and SCOPA committees is improved and their roles respected to beef up Municipal and Provincial governance and accountability, we will not turn the fortunes of Gauteng around.