IFP: CALLS FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE APPOINTMENT OF UNQUALIFIED MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICERS

The Inkatha Freedom Party welcomes the disclosure by Minister Pravin Gordhan that out of 278 chief financial officers at municipalities, 170 of them are not qualified (see report).

"This explains why our municipal financial controls and management are in such bad shape. Unqualified people lacking financial acumen should not have been appointed in the first place. We, therefore, call on the Minister to appoint a commission of enquiry to ascertain if those positions were advertised and if due process was followed in interviewing and appointing personnel in such critical positions," said Mr Blessed Gwala, IFP National Chairperson.

"Millions of rand of tax payer's money is allocated to municipalities to provide services to our people. These funds will not serve the intended purpose in the hands of unqualified individuals who were given positions because of political contacts or nepotism. Municipalities are rendered dysfunctional and people protest whilst these officials are paid handsome salaries," continued Mr Gwala.

"We call for those who are not suitably qualified for the positions they occupy to be fired and be blacklisted from occupying any position in the public sector. This will send a clear message to others who might think of trying to worm their way into the system," concluded Mr Gwala.

Statement issued by IFP National Chairperson, Mr Blessed Gwala, October 8 2014

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter