Staff facing axe in drive to achieve improved audits

A STRICT new regime that will ensure training and reskilling of municipal staff is to be introduced in the Eastern Cape in pursuit of total audit compliance.

And if that does not work, employees could be given other jobs – with non-performers facing the risk of being fired.

The initiative was announced on Friday by Local Government MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane.

The move follows auditor-general Terence Nombembe having reported that not one of the 45 municipalities in the province had achieved clean audits in the last financial year.

It also followed an announcement by National Planning Minister Trevor Manuel and Public Service and Administration Minister Lindiwe Sisulu that there would be a shake-up of the public service which would be based on the findings of a skills audit.

The ministers said public servants found not to be competent by a performance management system would be retrained for other positions. Those who failed in new jobs would be fired.