Auditing of Traditional Authorities’ Financial Books

ANONYMOUS WRITES:

We have it on good authority that Hompa Fishing (Pty) Ltd was founded on very excellent grounds early in 2021 to help look after the well-being of the 52 Traditional Authorities at that time during the reign of the late Dr. Hage Geingob. 

The primary objectives were to make a difference in the lives of the respective traditional communities through socio-economic development and social upliftment by engaging into various projects, which have never materialised.

One of the Directors of this company, Mr. Lesley Gariseb reported as far back as 25 August 2021, exactly five years ago, on Kaisames radio that some Traditional Authorities informed their subjects that they had received monies from Hompa Fishing and the intended purpose of those monies etc.

In terms of the Government Gazette No. 2532 dated 17 May 2001, Schedule Arrangement and Regulations Part III Management of Community Trust Fund, Section 10(1) (d), (e) & (f) the Board of Trustees shall keep such accounting and related records as are necessary to fairly represent the transactions and financial position of the fund.

Furthermore, the Board of Trustees shall not later than three (3) months after the end of each financial year cause the accounting and related records of the Fund to be audited by any person registered in terms of the Public Accountants’ and Auditors Act No. 51 of 1951, as an accountant and auditor, and appointed by the Board.

Once again, in terms of Section 3 (3)(a) of the Traditional Authorities Act No. 25 of 2000, the respective Traditional Authorities may raise funds on behalf of their Traditional community, which funds shall be paid into the Community Trust Fund of that community. By then they weren’t subjected to forensic auditing by the Auditor-General’s Office.

The name of Hompa Fishing was suddenly changed in between to “Oonani Investment Group” (Pty) Ltd, probably by its Board of Directors for reasons best known to themselves only. They have such nice core values that they don’t uphold and respect, viz. integrity, fairness, transparency, accountability, human dignity and social progress, but they rather opt to protect and defend the vested interest of the Traditional Authorities above that of the poor rural communities.

Now, the question begs in whose accounts were these Funds paid, since not all the Traditional Authorities do have Community Trust Funds and how was these monies spent and on what? The Fishing quota allocated to nowadays Oonani Investment Group is taxpayers money and becomes public money the moment it’s paid into a Community Trust Fund account and it’s therefore legally subjected to public scrutiny and auditing by the Office of the Auditor-General.

Thus, it’s a good move in the right direction that the accounts of several Traditional Authorities have been audited so far and I would strongly advise and recommend that all Traditional Authorities who have received these monies be audited for transparency and to hold leaders accountable, because all over it’s the same “mess” of misappropriation of public funds and endless squandering of public resources. 

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