With only four days left until the closure of public comments, the DA calls on the public to make sure they provide their comments on two Private Members Bills before Parliament before the deadline of Monday 6 June 2022.
Both Bills aim to amend various sections of the Public Finance Management Act (“PFMA”) in order to keep government accountable and ensure good corporate governance.
- The First Bill, [B41-2018], introduced by DA MP, Alf Lees, requires the Minister of Finance to table a report to Parliament anytime a guarantee or security has been issued to a public entity and would require the Minister to provide all relevant details of such guarantee or security within 30 days.
- The Second Bill, [B13-2020], introduced by DA MP, Ghaleb Cachalia, aims to provide additional measures in instances where the executive authority has failed to table an annual report and financial statements in the relevant legislature on time. This amendment would then be in line with international financial reporting standards. Currently, the PFMA does not provide for any additional measures in instances where such reports and statements are not tabled. This flies in the face of transparency, governance, and oversight.
By passing both Bills through Parliament, the DA will be able to keep the executive in check and ensure that there are no reckless or dodgy background guarantees being issued to institutions that are endless and bottomless money pits.
Parliament will be able to effectively ensure an open and transparent government, so that things like state capture and rampant corruption will never happen again under its watch.
The DA calls upon the public to show their support for these Bills by no later than Monday 6 June 2022. Submissions can be emailed to Mr Allen Wicomb at awicomb@parliament.gov.za and Ms Teboho Sepanya at tsepanya@parliament.gov.za.