Young Communist League statement on the Auditor-General Report

17 January 2012

The Young Communist League of South Africa [Ufasimba] welcomes and notes the report by the Auditor General of South Africa, Mr Nombembe regarding the concerns which emerge out of the National audit outcomes of National and Provincial government departments. The non-compliance of laws and regulations in government is a symptom of the corrupt nature of the system of capitalism and its accumulation path.

It is disappointing to find that less than ten (10) percent of all national departments had done what is expected of them and got satisfactory outcomes with regards to clean audits. This shows a lack of commitment within departments to do what is appropriate and also to enhance service delivery. What is motivating is the fact that the Auditor-General praises the commitment of leadership in ensuring that departments get clean reports. But the bulk of the crisis lies in supply-chain management further highlighting the weakness within the tender systems and the rampant corruption within our state.

We wish to call upon cabinet to intervene in the National Department of Public Works which appeared to be the only department that got a disclaimer of opinion. The Department of Public Works has been in the media for all the wrong reasons and this must come to an end.

It is a sad story that an amount of R25 billion has been classified as “wasteful expenditure, unauthorised and irregular” whilst there are pertinent issues of free education that are of urgent need. We further reiterate our call for universities to be built closer to the people, the increase in the number of schools built and teacher deployment in the rural areas, the provision of free education across basic and higher education fraternity.

It is our belief that if such financial resources were properly channelled in line with the five priorities of government which include the provision of free and quality education our country would have done even better in fighting illiteracy and unemployment.

The national government must look into the findings of the Auditor-General and ensure that the issues raised are attended to, especially the high vacancy rate in the public service in the face of growing unemployment, inequality and poverty.

Issued by the Young Communist league

For more information:
Mangaliso Stalin Khonza
National Spokesperson
Young Communist League
083 617 5546

Khaya Xaba
Media Liaison Officer
Young Communist League
074 520 4204