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17 December 2008

Let me first and foremost express our gratitude to every media organisations that have heeded our invitation to this press briefing.

I am elated indeed that this platform offer an opportunity to convey our message on the recent bad press we have received as the department.

This media conference is a clear demonstration that we have an open-door policy that we value our diverse stakeholders, including our officials that we act with integrity in everything we do.

We remain committed to creating a sense of belonging amongst our staffers, a culture of collaboration and encourage team work amongst treasury officials

In line with our open door policy through our internal Izimbizo forum and other platforms, we listen to the problems of our staff. Irrespective of their gender, race, or religious beliefs.

From next year we will be introducing an electronic suggestions box called Tips for Tate where both our internal and external stakeholders can raise their concerns with the MEC.

We call on our staff and members of the public, including journalists to use this platform to raise their suggestions, concerns and grievances when we seem to be straying from the principle of good governance. We will ensure that every grievance no matter how petty is taken seriously.

Through Tips for Tate we will find ways of letting stakeholders into our space, taking their pulse and letting them take ours.

We always encourage our staff to go beyond the call of duty in their mission of delivering services to our people.

I was therefore surprised and dismayed when I read an article published at the Volksblad of 9 December 2008 casting aspersions on the integrity of this department.

The article which was based on faceless sources accounts, sought to tarnish the image of the department. The allegations reported in this article are factually incorrect and baseless.

This after I have personally, in my capacity as the political head of the department hosted a Media Networking session where we shared with journalists our vision and mission of fighting poverty, underdevelopment and inequality which continue to be the salient feature of our society.

As government our core functions is to push back the encroaching tide of poverty, unemployment and the pestilential threat of AIDS.

We are not in the business of corruption, and racial discrimination against any individual or institutions.

The ethos and vision of the Freedom Charter informed our policies of national reconciliation and nation building. We strongly believe in principle enshrined in the charter that ‘South Africa belongs to all who live in it’.

For the record we are not aware of any corrupt senior officials within the department and we will duly advice anyone who has evidence alleged corruption to contact my office, or law enforcement agencies including the Public Protector.

Corruption, ladies and gentlemen, undermines democratic governance and our efforts to build a prosperous and just society.

Fighting corruption is therefore everyone’s responsibility. Together let us build a province free of corruption.

As indicated earlier the department has various forums, such as staff izimbizo, and extended management meetings where disenchanted employees can raise their concerns without any fear of victimisation.

As you may be aware the Protected Disclosures Act of 2000 protects employees who blow the whistle. Employees are therefore free to contact my office if they suspect any wrong doing within the department.

To suggest that working environment is unbearable within the department is untrue and spurious.

On Cost Containment Measures (CCM), we can confirm that we have put in place these measures to reprioritise the spending of not only treasury but all provincial government departments.

As public service our core function is to ensure that we roll-out the much-needed service delivery and improve the living standard of the Free State populace. This is exactly what we want to achieve.

Regarding the provision of the Anti- Retroviral Treatment we are supporting the provincial Department of Health in its endeavours to find a lasting and positive solution to this challenge. We are upbeat that in the spirit of inter governmental relations; together we will eventually surmount this obstacle in our war against the scourge of HIV and AIDS.

HIV and AIDS is among us. It is real and presents huge challenge for the people of our country. We can only defeat Aids if we join hands to save our people.

Furthermore, the staff turn-over and resignation of officials is not unique to Treasury Department. In fact this is a national phenomenon. The in-house exist interviews we conducted with the staffers leaving department are not suggesting that they are disgruntled as was reported in the newspaper.

On the alleged MEC’s birthday party we want to put on record that there was no birthday party for the MEC. The birthday of the MEC coincided with the launch of the provincial socio-economic review. At the launch’s networking dinner session, the MEC’s birthday was acknowledged. Indeed the limit for this activity was exceeded due to the increased number of guests who attended. Correct procedure and approval was granted for increasing budget for this function.

There was nothing irregular in the purchasing of the Plasma TV set. This is part of the standard furniture within the office of the senior managers. This was procured long before the cost containment measures were in place in the previous financial year. There was nothing untoward about the purchasing of this TV.

On the issue of an alleged Lesotho national employed by the department we don’t have such an employee in our staff establishment.

The former Matjhabeng Municipality official who is now employed as the chief of staff in my office is a South African citizen. To suggest that he is not without even verifying his nationality is absurd. This allegation smacks of poor journalism by Volksblad. In addition this employee did not reside in a guesthouse for more than three month.

Finally, the official from Masilonyana Local Municipality was unemployed when he applied for and finally joined the department as Media Liaison Officer (MLO) in the office of the MEC.

We are not aware of any corruption charges which were pending against him.

Lastly let me take this opportunity to wish you prosperous and happy holidays.

Let's be safe and enjoy festive season safely.

May God bless you.

I thank you.

Enquiries:
Howard Ndaba
Tel: 051 405 4229
Cell: 083 291 6622
Fax: 051 405 4072
E-mail: howard@treasury.fs.gov.za

Issued by: Department of Treasury, Free State Provincial Government
17 December 2008
Source: Department of Treasury, Free State Provincial Government (http://www.treasury.fs.gov.za/)