Newspaper printed by NMG Printers ENVOY TO EUROPE Premier to lead trade talks P 2 Telephone: (015) 293 9400 20-26 September 2017 ‘Youth development will take SA forward’ - Page 3 Reason to celebrate Two Lim departments sport clean reports from Auditor- General - Page 2 Lim Sport Awards Fun in spring sun China Rammala enjoys himself in an air balloon during the Spring Carnival at Polokwane Cricket Club on Saturday. More carnival action on page 11. Vote for your top sport achiever this year - Page 4 EXCLUSIVE TO ONLINE This girl’s on fire www.reviewonline.co.za No case after R15m ‘fraud’ Nelie Erasmus Limpopo roads among to BONUS, moved to the Western Cape after the discovery of fraud and fi nancial most dangerous in South THE Polokwane Municipality earlier this irregularities through the municipality’s Africa year, accepted the resignation of an offi cial internal controls. http://reviewonline. suspected to have committed fraud to the According to a source, the person is said to co.za/227612/ tune of R15 million, without the offi cial have fabricated quotations, falsifi ed another Loud and outgoing, yet facing any further charges or investigations, person’s signature and created fi ctitious limpopo-roads- internal or through criminal processes. companies and used existing humble, she seizes the day among-dangerous- The offi cial, whose identity is known TO PAGE 2 - Page 7 south-africa/ 2 Bonus | News 20-26 September 2017 Lim Premier Happiness after 2 clean audits leads team Nelie Erasmus Agriculture, CoGHSTA and LEDA) still abound in the government sector. received qualifi ed reports with fi ndings. A sample of 11 key projects audited has THE Auditor-General (AG) presented the Last year there was no clean audits and shown irregularities in the supply chain to Europe Limpopo Audit outcomes for the 2016/17 in 2014/15 one auditee, the Offi ce of the management process in 67% of these audits Nelie Erasmus fi nancial year on Thursday, 14 September Premier obtained a clean audit. and 7% of grants money was not used for its during the provincial government’s Asked why the three auditees regressed, intended purpose. LIMPOPO Premier, Stanley Mathabatha, Executive Council (Exco) in-house meeting. MEC for Treasury, Rob Tooley said Irregular expenditure, of which 16 departed for Europe leading a provincial During the meeting the AG announced CoGHSTA regressed as a result of the auditees account for 76% of the irregular delegation on a trade and investment the province has improved signifi cantly purchasing of land above its value, the expenditure, amounted to R1 479 million promotion mission to Spain and France from the 2015/16 report, with two clean Department of Agriculture as a result in the 2016/17 fi nancial year, while on Sunday. audits: One by Treasury and the other of assets and non-credibility fruitless and wasteful expenditure The delegates, which include the by the Limpopo Gambling Board. The of its asset register and Leda also increased from R44 MEC and HOD for Agriculture, Mapula province is also the most improved because of the credibility of million in 2015/16 to R139 Mokaba-Phukwana and Jacqueline province with regards to audits in the its asset register. million in 2016/17. Maisela as well the MEC for Economic country, with six auditees having received Issues such as non- The leadership of Development, Environment and Tourism, improved audit reports. Twelve auditees adherence to and auditees’ internal control Seaparo Sekoati, will return to South remained unchanged and three auditees, irregularities in were a matter of concern Africa on 24 September. the Department of Agriculture, Limpopo supply management for the AG’s offi ce in 81% “The rationale behind this undertaking Economic Development Agency (Leda) and legislation and of auditees and 10% of is to leverage investment opportunities, the Department of Cooperative Governance, regulations, asset auditees’ fi nancial and foster partnerships and collaborations Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs registers and performance management in critical economic areas such as (CoGHSTA), have regressed. government offi cials were found to need energy, manufacturing, agriculture, The following departments and state doing business with interventions. mining, refi nery, automotive, research entities received unqualifi ed reports with departments [email protected] and tourism. This visit presents an fi ndings: Offi ce of the Premier, Legislature, opportunity for Limpopo to market itself Safety, Social Development, Transport, in Europe and source much-needed Corridor Mining Resources, Great North foreign direct investment as one of Transport and Venteco. the concerted efforts to implement the Eight departments (Economic Limpopo Development Plan (LDP),” Development, Environment and Provincial Government Spokesperson, Tourism, Health, Public Works, Phuti Seloba, who will accompany the Sports, Arts and Culture, delegation, said last week. He said the envisaged success of these Limpopo missions could see the two countries Premier Stanley investing in the province, thus playing Mathabatha a pivotal role in creating much-needed announces the jobs. 2016/17 Auditor- “Furthermore, the delegation will General’s reports utilise this once in lifetime opportunity to on fi nancial benchmark and exchange good economic statements in practices, inventions and innovations.” Limpopo. [email protected] EXCLUSIVE No case after R15m ‘fraud’ FROM PAGE 1 be done. The offi cial at the time decided TO ONLINE companies’ names to solicit business to resign.” from the municipality. Even though, according to the labour www.reviewonline.co.za The offi cial’s lifestyle was apparently law, a person can be investigated despite Tel: (015) 293 9400 / Fax: (015) 293 2296 extravagant considering the salary earned. a resignation being tendered, Mothapo Address: 46 Fosfaat Street, Laboria, Polokwane 0699 OFFICE HOURS: After the person was initially informed maintained an employee could be MON-THURS: 08:00 - 16:30 / FRI: 08:00 - 16:00 that the municipality had planned an accused or charged of fraud after a formal investigation, he resigned with no further investigation was conducted: “At the time Branch Manager Journalists action taken against him. of his resignation, there were no charges Hannes Cilliers Roelof de Jonge 078 672 7306 BONUS wanted answers from the against him and therefore there was Group Editor Riana Joubert municipality, among others, why it was no legal ground or evidence to pursue Joline Nash 082 972 1683 076 359 3561 that months earlier, another offi cial in the the matter”. According to the labour [email protected] Maretha Swanepoel 076 878 6724 Dagga worth R210 000 same department had been investigated guide issued by the Commission for Deputy Editor and found guilty, criminally, on a fraud Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration Hilda Pretorius Anne Molope confiscated outside [email protected] 084 430 8111 charge of a lesser amount of R1,5 (CCMA), an employee is required to Nelie Erasmus Polokwane during Lim SAPS million while this apparent case was not supply the employer with a contractual News Editor 082 963 4365 Cheryllee Hannam Thabitha Mahlangu operation investigated. period of notice, e.g. one month, and the 078 425 7592 079 586 6217 The municipality did in fact, receive employer can still pursue disciplinary http://reviewonline. the services related action within the said Sales & Marketing Manager Sales Representatives co.za/227861/ Karen Botha Karin Botha 082 699 7313 to the expenditure, period, as the employee [email protected] Sonnika Fox 082 045 1204 dagga-worth-r210- according the Municipal The employee’s is still employed by the Helene Short 000-confiscated- Spokesperson, employer. Online 079 865 4238 lifestyle was Colleen Woller Jolene Venter outside-polokwane- Matshidiso Mothapo. “The employer is fully [email protected] 079 615 6821 lim-saps-operation/ “This was more apparently entitled to proceed with Raeesa Kimmie Adri Burr-Dixon [email protected] of a processes issue extravagant the disciplinary action 084 664 9306 than the alleged fraud. even if the employee Code of Conduct The deviations were has resigned,” the guide This newspaper has committed itself to report reported as part of fi nancial statements states. news truthfully and accurately, and to publish to council and that formed part of the Mothapo said the municipality was comment that is fair, in accordance with the reports presented to the AG. In line with not aware of the involvement of other highest standards of journalism as set out in the Press Code of South Africa. Complaints that this AG’s fi ndings and recommendations, the offi cials as an investigation was not code has been breached may be lodged with municipality has strengthened its internal done. “All the allegations need to be the offi ce of the Press Ombudsman. Written control systems to minimise or ensure tested with evidence. The matter may complaints, with a copy of the report concerned, may be sent to the press ombudsman at: fax that cases of this nature do not recur,” he also be reported to the police and the 011 484 3612 or e-mail said. municipality will fully cooperate with pressombudsman Mothapo confi rmed the offi cial any investigation in the interest of good @ombudsman.org.za received a notice of intention of governance.” Asked if Bonus could Publisher suspension. “After irregularities relating discuss the matter with the Mayor, Published by Caxton Local Media, 9 Wright to deviations were detected through Thembi Nkadimeng, Mothapo said he Street, Industria; and printed by Caxton Printers, internal control systems, the offi cial was spoke on behalf of the municipality, and a division of CTP Limited, 16 Wright Street informed of the municipality’s intention on behalf of the mayor. Industria. All rights and reproduction of all reports, photographs, drawings and all materials to suspend him so an investigation could [email protected] published in this newspaper are hereby reserved in terms of Section 12 (7) of the Copyright Act No 96 of 1978 and any amendments thereof.