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S. African Parliament Speaker intervenes in probe into death threats against Auditor General

Xinhua,June 01, 2018 Adjust font size:

CAPE TOWN, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Parliament Speaker Baleka Mbete on Thursday threw her weight behind a probe into death threats against the Auditor General, saying such threats were an attempt to undermine democracy in the country.

"As stated in section 181 of the Constitution, no person or organ of state may interfere with the functioning of state institutions supporting democracy," Mbete said in a statement emailed to Xinhua.

Earlier on Thursday, Mbete held a teleconference with Auditor General Kimi Makwetu to discuss steps to investigate the threats. Also present were Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Zweli Mkhize and Chairperson of the Standing Committee on the Auditor General, Vincent Smith.

Mbete's teleconference followed receipt of a letter from Smith about the alleged threats.

Mbete said she was assured by Mkhize that the matter is receiving urgent attention by his office and that police are investigating the allegations.

She quoted Mkhize as saying that the incident was being taken very seriously and Parliament would be kept informed of developments.

Mbete said she would keep a close eye on the matter, stressing that Parliament regarded the work of the Auditor General as critical in improving governance.

The Auditor General's Office withdrew audit managers from two municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal Province last week due to intimidation and threats.

The alleged threats, received on May 22 via phone, saw the Auditor General's provincial office deciding to cease audits and withdraw its team the following day.

Earlier this week, the National Assembly passed the Public Audit Amendment Bill, which will now go to the National Council of Provinces for concurrence.

Once passed into law, the Bill will give the Auditor General the powers to recover financial losses incurred through unauthorized, irregular and fruitless and wasteful expenditure, among others.

The Bill will also grant the Auditor General the powers to take remedial action and to refer certain suspected irregularities for investigation. Enditem

 

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