Chairperson, the ID is very concerned about a number of municipalities that received qualified audit reports and yet are still ignoring the Auditor-General's recommendations. Some municipalities even operate as if there is no Municipal Finance Management Act.
In order to ensure good and sound governance in municipalities, the ID's first solution would be to get rid of fat-cat consultants, many of whom are only interested in filling their pockets with money, instead of providing decent service at a reasonable cost.
Voorsitter, ek wil dit beklemtoon. Minister, die OD beveel aan dat u van alle vetkat-konsultante binne die munisipaliteite ontslae raak. Hulle mors ons geld, en hul pryse is buitensporig. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Chairperson, I want to emphasise this. Minister, the ID recommends that you get rid of all the fat-cat consultants in the municipalities. They waste our money and their costs are exorbitant.]
The ID further suggests that the Minister should rather employ, or deploy, internal audit units, which would be present throughout the financial year, to look out for financial mismanagement and corrupt activities. Although we support the holistic approach, we believe that each municipality is unique. They need individual attention to assist them in obtaining unqualified audits. I thank you.