Auditor-General: ‘Stricter controls’ needed to manage COVID-19 funds
Auditor-General Kimi Makwetu has reiterated the need for stricter controls to be put into place to manage government’s emergency funds.
Makwetu was briefing Parliament's Standing Committee on the Auditor-General on Friday.
He briefed MPs after releasing his report on R147.4 billion of government’s COVID-19 relief funding, in which he found “frightening” evidence of fraud and mismanagement.
"There is a lot of money that has not yet been spent or transferred to third parties whether in the form of procurement or funds transferred. Those that exercise oversight must use this report as a basis, so that they can begin to do proactive oversight," Makwetu said.
"We need to find how we can put the oversight mechanisms in our state to ensure there are systems in place to manage what remains of this COVID-19 expenditure.”
He also complained of trouble in obtaining information during the audit on procurement of personal protective equipment.
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