Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Sesotho soundbites by Cllr Stone Makhema.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Fezile Dabi will continue to strengthen measures that uphold clean, transparent, and accountable governance following the Fezile Dabi District Municipality Trust’s achievement of a clean audit. Where the DA has influence, financial integrity and ethical leadership deliver real benefits for communities through improved service delivery.
This achievement underscores our unwavering commitment to financial integrity, transparency, and efficient governance.
For years, the district municipality has consistently obtained poor audit reports from the Auditor General, which highlighted material irregularities and unauthorised expenditure reports. This prompted decisive steps to be taken to address the shortcomings and strengthen internal controls.
We have ensured that we are aware of some of the previous projects, which were used as a means to generate cash for corrupt officials within the institution, have been removed. The last concerts and music festivals, which were “cash cows” for these corrupt officials, have now been stopped as they were the cause of excessive irregular and unauthorised expenditure.
The municipality now ensures that funds meant for service delivery to our people are used for the intended purpose and not for festivities. Projects aimed at supporting HIV/AIDS and other initiatives are now carried out through the office of the Executive Mayor.
The development and implementation of audit action plans, strict financial controls, effective resource allocation, and a commitment to accountability have resulted in a clean audit report, a rare phenomenon among municipalities in the Free State province.
This milestone is evidence of the DA minority government’s commitment, with the support of the council collective, to deliver good governance where we lead.
As we congratulate the Fezile Dabi district municipality, the DA remains steadfast in its mission to ensure that taxpayers’ money is utilised responsibly and that service delivery remains a top priority.
This success is proof that clean governance is only possible when the correct principles are upheld and suitable people are in government.