The Portfolio Committee on Land Reform and Rural Development in South Africa has expressed concern over the laxity of officials in the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development following their failure to deliver financial statements to the Auditor General (AG) on time. The committee was alerted to the situation by the AG and subsequently called an emergency meeting to address the issue. The financial statements were due four months ago, and the committee chairperson, Albert Mncwango, stated that the situation reflects badly on both the department and the committee.
Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform Mzwanele Nyhontso claimed to have only recently learned of the delay and revealed that a complaint had been laid against the department's recently appointed director general, Bongikhaya Dayimani, for allegedly overworking his deputies. Dayimani was appointed in July, and the department was already two months overdue in submitting its financial statements at that time. The department's internal audit officials cited uncooperation from the Department of Agriculture as a reason for the delay in finalizing the statements.
The financial statements debacle has exposed deeper problems of dysfunction within the administration, including managers allegedly recording each other's attendance in meetings. Members of Parliament (MPs) gave Nyhontso a dressing down and demanded that action be taken against those responsible for the delays. The committee has been expressing concerns about the general attitude of the department's officials towards their work, citing delays and poor quality of reports.
Nyhontso stated that he would soon meet with the Public Service Commission (PSC) over a complaint from deputy directors general that Dayimani had been demanding too much from them. The complaint allegedly led to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) delaying seeking medical attention and missing the committee meeting. Nyhontso emphasized that it was time for consequence management, and the committee chairperson, Mncwango, urged Nyhontso to take action.
Dayimani assured the committee that the department would not underspend its budget this year, after returning R2 billion to the National Treasury last year. Land claimants are still awaiting their money, and the department's internal audit officials claim that the Department of Agriculture was uncooperative in helping them sort out matters related to the transfer of assets.
The Portfolio Committee on Land Reform and Rural Development has called for action to be taken against those responsible for the delays in submitting the financial statements. The committee's concerns about the department's laxity and lack of accountability have been ongoing, and Mncwango stated that it was high time Nyhontso took action. The situation has raised questions about the department's ability to manage its finances and implement land reform policies effectively.
The department's failure to submit its financial statements on time has significant implications for land reform and rural development in South Africa. The delay has hindered the committee's ability to oversee the department's activities and ensure that land claimants receive their due compensation. The committee's concerns about the department's laxity and lack of accountability are expected to continue, and Nyhontso has promised to take action to address the issues.
Key points
- The Portfolio Committee on Land Reform and Rural Development has expressed concern over the laxity of officials in the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development.
- The department's failure to submit its financial statements on time has significant implications for land reform and rural development in South Africa.
- Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso has promised to take action to address the issues and ensure that those responsible for the delays are held accountable.
