NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 2308
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 20 NOVEMBER 2009
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 29)
2308. Mrs A T Lovemore (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental
Affairs:
(1) (a) What measures were put in place to prevent the R18 million
made available by her department to the Sunday River Valley
Municipality for water supply in Paterson from being utilised
for operational expenses and (b) what action will she take
against the municipality for utilising R10.3 million of this
fund for operational expenses;
(2) whether the R10.3 million will be recovered from the accounting
officer in his personal capacity; if not, why not; if so, what
are the relevant details;
(3) (a) who will accept the responsibility for payment to the
contract for work that has been completed towards the
implementation of the Paterson water supply system and (b) what
action will be taken to ensure that the construction of the
Paterson water supply system can be completed?
NW3016E
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REPLY:
(1) (a) An agreement was signed between My Department and
the Sundayâs River Municipality as a Water Services Authority
with details of the purpose of the funds and the manner in which
they must be spent.
(1) (b) An audit of the funds is being undertaken by My
Department to determine how the funds were utilized and for what
purpose. Appropriate action will be taken on the basis of the
results of the audit.
(2) The Municipal Manager has since left the Municipality. My
Department is currently engaging the municipality with the
intention to recover the unaccounted for funds. At a meeting
held recently, the Municipality committed to repay the funds.
(3) (a) The Sundays River Valley Municipality is expected to
pay for work already completed within the project.
(3) (b) Currently interacting with the Municipality to facilitate
the transfer of the contract to My Department to ensure the
continuation of the project.
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