TO: ALL MEDIA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: 12 AUGUST 2022

ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEES TO CONVENE ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The National Association of Public Accounts Committees (APAC) will from the 15th to 17th August 2022 convene its Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting under the theme “Enhanced Oversight for Ethical Public Financial Management and Accountability to Grow South Africa Together”.

Established in 1997, APAC is an association of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) of National Parliament and similar public accounts committees of the nine provincial legislatures in South Africa.

The Association was formed with the objective of improving the quality of oversight on public financial management and accountability of the legislatures and government in the country. It performs this by empowering the public accounts committees and by building the capacity of their individual members.

APAC supports public accounts committees with mechanism to hold public institutions accountable if they do not comply with the relevant laws and other regulations. With the hosting of this conference, APAC seeks to facilitate exchange of information and best practices, and to discuss issues of mutual concern.
The Conference and AGM will be addressed by representatives of the National Speakers Forum, the Auditor-General of South Africa and the Acting Deputy Public Protector.

Delegates will deliberate on topics for debate during breakaway sessions on the first of conference. On the 16th, the conference will focus on presentations of discussions emanating from the caucus groups. And finally, on the 17th APAC will convene its Annual General Meeting (AGM) to communicate key decisions of the Association.

Some of the topics which the conference will address include:
• Enhancing Oversight on Public Financial Management and Accountability in South Africa.
• Support to Municipal Oversight on Financial Management and Accountability.
• Strengthening Collaboration with the Auditor-General of South Africa for Ethical Public Financial Management and Accountability.
• Deepening Societal Mobilization for Ethical Public Financial Management and Accountability.

Details of the Conference are as follows:
Date: Monday 15th to Tuesday 16th August 2022
Time: 09h00 am daily
Venue: Southern Sun, Maharani, Durban

Details of the AGM are as follows:
Date: Wednesday 17th August 2022
Time: 09h00
Venue: The Edward Hotel, Durban

For media RSVP’s and interview requests with the General Secretary, please contact Ms Pfano Bulasigobo on 060 533 1982 email: PBulasigobo@gpl.gov.za or Mr Sina Wiseman Nxumalo on 0829060449 email: nxumalow@kznleg.gov.za .
-ends-

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE GENERERAL SECRETARY OF THE ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE, HONOURABLE SOCHAYILE KHANYILE.

ISSUED BY THE OFFICE OF THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF APAC

On 07 July 2022, COGTA Portfolio Committee is conducting its inaugural Section 132 meetings with municipalities under uMgungundlovu District to consider the 2021/2022 Municipal Audit Outcomes as presented by the Auditor-General’s Office after conducting the audit of all KZN municipalities.

The Section 132 Hearings are being conducted in line with Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), which governs the management of municipal finances. The committee has resolved to hold meetings with worst performing municipalities in KZN which have received adverse audits, disclaimer audits and qualified audit reports in the last financial year.

Notwithstanding the poor performance by other municipalities, some have shown remarkable improvement in terms of managing their finances and other assets.

Appearing before the committee today is Umshwathi, Mpofana and Umngeni Municipalities to account on the state of their finances as well as service delivery in the communities they serve.

The hearings which are also attended by the COGTA Department, are taking place in the Legislature Chamber. Further hearings with other municipalities will be held during July.

KZN LEGISLTURE SPEAKER HON NONTEMBEKO BOYC LED A MASSIVE CLEAN UP CAMPAIGN INKOSI MTUBATUBA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY.

Cleanliness is one of the major challenges facing communities currently which will also impact the future adversely and it is common belief that teaching the youth essential life skills impacts on their behavior as adults. It is for this reason that the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature Speaker Hon Nontembeko Boyce, on the 16^th of June 2022 led a clean up campaign in Inkosi Mtubatuba Municipality ‘s Msane township with an aim to tackle the environmental health issues and be part of the anti-pollution campaign.

The campaign portrayed the importance of protecting the environment and helped spark behavioral change amongst young people. The clean-up campaign was part of the Speaker’s Social Responsibility programme for the Youth Parliament. It took place on the sidelines of the Youth Month activities and was attended by members of the legislature, councillors and leaders of youth formations.

1 2 3 ►

2022 LGBTQIA+ SYMPOSIUM RESOLUTIONS

Noting:
That the KZN Legislature held its successful LGBTQIA+ symposium in 2021, which was the first of its kind.

That the Speaker of the KZN Legislature will go down into the history books as someone who did not only pay lip service to embracing the rights of all communities, as encapsulated in the Constitution

It is resolved:
That words of gratitude be expressed to the KZN Legislature Speaker for not betraying pillars of the Constitution.

Noting:
That two in three members of the LGBTQIA+ community are reported to be experiencing systemic and institutional discrimination.

That these experiences negatively affect the physical, psychological, and financial well-being of LGBTQIA+ community members, who then alter their lives in significant ways to avoid discrimination.

It is resolved:
That government includes lessons about LGBTQIA+ community concept in basic education curriculum.

Noting:
That LGBTQIA+ community still find it difficult to access employment and growth opportunities in workplaces due to discrimination.

It is resolved:
That government makes it a priority to promote the economic security and financial stability of LGBTQIA+ community by fostering inclusive labour practices and workplace policies.

Noting:
That LGBTQIA+ community members are often removed from the priority list of land and housing beneficiaries.

It is resolved:
That government ensures greater access to equally safe and stable housing for LGBTQIA+ community, as well as support services for those experiencing homelessness.

Noting:
That Social Compact is a political voluntary agreement between government and political communities.

That Department of Sport, Arts and Culture was mandated by the President to lead on this transversal mandate.

It is resolved:
That all sporting codes accommodate the LGBTQIA+ sector and where challenges the sector be consulted.

That advocacy programmes for gender dialogues be in place.

Noting:
That most schools do not have a school based social worker to assist with issues affecting the LGBTQIA+ community members.

It is resolved:
That each school employs a school based social worker to assist with all learners social and psychological needs; especially those from the LGBTQIA+ community.

Noting:
The discrimination experienced by LGBTQIA+ community members at police stations when reporting or opening cases.

It is resolved:
That SAPS be capacitated to treat everyone equally, especially so that they will be receptive towards LGBTQIA+ community members.

Members of the Social Development Portfolio Committee visited the state of the art Wentworth Youth Development Centre and were impressed with the upkeep of the facilities and buildings.

The Centre offers skills development in catering, decor, electricity, fashion designing and sewing.

Members of the Committee were excited that the institution has a program in place to secure employment for those who qualify and provides entrepreneurship training for others to start their own businesses. #kznmpls

KZN LEGISLATURE’S MULTI-PARTY DELEGATION VISITS HARRY GWALA – 23 to 23 June 2022

Members of the KZN Legislature are deployed throughout the Harry Gwala district on 22 & 23 June 2022 to hold meetings with communities and listen to their service delivery challenges.

MPLs will also visit development projects that are funded by the provincial government and the district and local municipalities to monitor their effectiveness in communities where these projects are located.

These visits are in preparation of the Taking Legislature to the People which is set to sit in the Harry Gwala district within the next few months.

The Multi-Party visits focus on tracking progress made in the implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP) in the district such as the province’s contribution through its Provincial Growth Development Plan and Mid-term Strategic Framework (MTSF).

Members will also engage communities on the challenges they are facing as far development is concerned and what has been the response of the provincial government departments and local municipalities.

1 2 ►

22 June 2022
Media Advisory

KZN LEGISLATURE’S MULTI-PARTY DELEGATION VISITS HARRY GWALA

Members of the KZN Legislature will be deployed throughout the Harry Gwala district from tomorrow (23/06/2022) to hold various meetings with communities and listen to their service delivery challenges. They will also visit development projects that are funded by the provincial government and the district and local municipalities to monitor their effectiveness in communities where these projects are located.
These visits are in preparation of the Taking Legislature to the People which is set to sit in the Harry Gwala district in the next few months.
The Multi-Party visits will focus on tracking progress made in the implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP) in the district such as the province’s contribution through its Provincial Growth Development Plan and Mid-term Strategic Framework (MTSF).
Members will also engage communities on the challenges they are facing as far development is concerned and what has been the response of the provincial government departments and local municipalities.
Deployment of the Multiparty delegation in all four municipalities of the district is attached.
Members of the media are invited to attend and report on these accordingly.
Please see the attached deployment list.

Ends
Issued by the KZN Legislature Communications Unit

For more information please contact Mr Sina Nxumalo at 082906 0449

MEDIA RELEASE

25 MAY 2022

TO: ALL MEDIA
SUBJECT:  KZN LEGISLATURE TO HOLD THE 2022 WORKERS’ PARLIAMENT

From the 27 to 28 May 2022, the Legislature will hold its annual Workers’ Parliament in King Cetshwayo District, eSikhaleni township at kwaHlanganani Hall from 10am on both days. The three Federations, COSATU, FEDUSA and NACTU will participate in the Workers’ Parliament where they will engage government on various issues affecting the working class.

Some of these engagements include strategies to launch CCMA cases for non-unionized workers, fast tracking of the Pension Fund amendments to allow workers access to their pension funds, skilling of the workers for the 4th Industrial Revolution, update on Temporary Employer/ Employee Relief Scheme, National Labour Migration Policy and the Inspection of Programmes of the of the Department of Employment and Labour.

The 2022 Workers’ Parliament is held under the theme, “Uniting Workers to Defend Collective Bargaining and Jobs Whilst Advancing Improved Labour Laws”. Through this theme workers will be focusing on improving working conditions in all sectors of employment and defending what workers view as a threat to collective bargaining.

Media is invited to attend and cover the event.

End

For more information, contact:
Wesley Canham
0833767299
Media Liaison and PR