September 27 2009

South Africa’s deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe is expected to deliver a keynote address at a conference of the Association of Public Accounts Committees in Cape Town today. The meeting is being attended by 600 government delegates from across the African continent. They will share ideas on how to effectively manage public funds.

Association chairperson, Fish Mahlalela says they don't have institutions of public accounts at a local government level. Mahlalela says there is a need for public accounts committees at municipal levels. He says there is a strong feeling about the need for such a development to help take on challenges that they are currently confronted with in relation to the provision of basic services.

Recent reports indicate that many countries are faced with problems ranging from overspending in the public service to ineffective service delivery. Mahlalela says the gathering is aimed at making sure that parliament, on behalf of the people of South Africa and which is entrusted to its people, makes sure that money that is given to government is mainly used to the benefit of the people and to ensure that there is maximisation of service delivery to the people.

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