Scopa places multimillion-rand UIF irregularities in the spotlight, demands action
The Standing Committee of Public Accounts (Scopa) has slammed the Deputy General of the Labour Department, Thobile Lamati, for failing to implement recommendations made by the Auditor General (AG) over irregular expenditure at Unemployment Insurance fund (UIF).
A 2018/2019 financial report by the late AG, Kimi Makwetu, found that officials at the fund permitted irregular expenditure of R86 million in the prior year.
ANC MP, Bheki Hadebe slammed Lamati for not taking sufficient action against the officials.
“(In) the forensic investigation the AG said you have failed to act on the forensic investigation and sanction. I don’t want us to reopen the case,” said Hadebe.
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However, Lamati insisted: “As far as I am concerned, I did not fail to act, I acted. The outcomes may not be as expected.”
According to Lamati, the AG directed that a disciplinary process be embarked upon but did not specify the outcome of such a process.
Lamati maintains that this was, in fact, implemented.
Listen to Lamati below:
Minister Thulas Nxesi has requested the committee grant him two months to investigate if and why disciplinary action was not instituted against the relevant officials.
"My take is that if you are supposed to conduct a disciplinary process or action, there are a number of steps that must be followed. In this particular case, I would prefer to go and get the facts, analyse it and write a report. I would prefer to deal with the matter factually and go into the details of the matter."
