The announcement in the then finance minister, Pravin Gordhan’s budget speech curbing government spend on credit cards and external MICE facilities has exposed issues which are likely to have far-reaching corrective measures.
The chickens are only now coming home to roost as departments start doing their audits following the halcyon days coming to an abrupt end.
Due to the severity of the negativities in not abiding by these specific expenditure curtailments – a number of public sector entities have enlisted the assistance of other auditors. The reasons appear to be that it is prudent to get external clarity before it catches the attention of a whole range of government agencies such as: Treasury, Finance, SARS, SCOPA to name but a few who could have the muscle/responsibility to ensure a dark cloud hangs over a senior civil servant or two forever thereafter.
It is important to note that there is a serious process to ensure internal meeting facilities have been thoroughly checked to determine whether the contemplated meeting can be held in a variety of other government departments, agencies and parastatal’s facilities – on the premises – within a fairly large distance from the offices, where the majority of the attendees will emanate. The cross-reference to why an unused facility was not used is another of those loaded questions which could send a shiver through an accounting officer’s bones.
Some of the findings from various auditing checks make intriguing information and beg the question that there are indeed more questions than answers:
- venues that covered-up unexplained ‘additions’ through large meeting facility rental charges were likely to be removed from future booking consideration;
- key staffers involved in booking external facilities appeared to select a venue where an add-on week-end for two or more with suitable accommodation was part of the meeting facility;
- middle-to-senior management disapproved of not being able to charge to the company credit cards their preferred imported alcohol choice, let alone local required abstinence;
- it was revealed where a line item of R10 000 worth of muffins for 50 guests could not be justified by the venue concerned – the venue was removed from a list of future suppliers irrespective of grading status.
By all intents and purposes – it does appear the days of wine and roses are but a fond memory at this time.
