On Tuesday, the Speaker of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament (WCPP), Honourable Masizole Mnqasela, together with the parliamentary administration, were praised by the Parliamentary Oversight Committee (POC) for the clean audit the organisation received, as they deliberated on the institution’s 2021/2022 Annual Report.
The POC invited the Speaker and the administration to engage the committee on the annual report of the institution for 2021/22. The committee also met with the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) and the WCPP Audit Committee to discuss the audit outcomes of the 2021/22 Annual Report of the Institution.
Thereafter, the committee met with the WCPP administration to engage it on all the sections of the Annual Report. The AGSA raised no findings with the Institution on compliance with laws and regulations, predetermined objectives, nor internal control deficiencies.
Hon Mnqasela said, “This period is the annual report season, as the Speaker of Parliament I also report to a Committee that is called Parliamentary Oversight Committee. Having concluded that, today, the committee expressed appreciation and congratulated the Speaker for the great work done to achieve a clean audit, which is a document put together by the AGSA to express a view on how finances are managed by the institution.
He said in the question on governance and systems, the AGSA said the WCPP has done a great job in the period of 2021 up to 2022 end of March, and that is a very good achievement.
“It’s a great achievement for myself as the Speaker and of course for my team in this Parliament that works tirelessly to produce these great results. What was also highlighted by the committee is the success of the Thetha Nathi programme, which is one of the great programmes, a brainchild of this institution, under my leadership, to say that we need to consult and engage people differently and involve the public in the work that we do,” he said.
Hon Mnqasela said when he took office as the Speaker in 2019, he committed to uphold and protect the dignity and decorum of the House and to serve all Members equally, to ensure that the WCPP fulfils its constitutional obligation of law-making, oversight and public participation to the full.
“To create an environment where all Members and staff can participate in the proceedings and procedures of the WCPP to their full potential and thereby strengthen our parliamentary democracy, to represent our institution both locally and abroad in the best interests of the people to the best of my ability, and to create and maintain a stable parliamentary organisation to serve our Members and the people of the province optimally with clear lines of authority and accountability, respecting the different governance structures,” said Hon Mnqasela.
The newly appointed Chairperson of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee, Hon Matlhodi Maseko, thanked Hon Mnqasela and the team for the clean audit.
“This institution is a benchmark for other legislatures within the country. So, you need to pat yourself on the back, in really doing what you are doing and for the support that you are giving to the Members, on their behalf I need to say thank you very much,” said Hon Matlhodi.
Romeo Adams, Secretary to the WCPP, said 2021/22 was once again a year of unpredictability and uncertainty, although not at the level experienced in 2020/21.
Adams said the WCPP continued to build on its learnings from the previous year and used the available information to enhance its activities and operations during the 2021/22 financial year.
“The 2021/22 financial year necessitated an analysis of the key strategic issues as well as an assessment of the WCPP’s performance to date, in relation to the implementation of the 2020/21 to 2024/25 Strategic Plan,” said Adams.
