SOUTH AFRICA COMPUTER THEFT PROBLEM AT GOVERNMENT COUNCIL:: rekord.co.za ::Council officials waste ratepayer’s hard earned money.
This is according to Councillor Karen Meyer, a spokesperson for community safety at the Tshwane Metro when she recently attacked the mayor and mayoral committee for the ‘sorry state’ of administrative affairs.
This comes after a report regarding statistical insurance claims over the last year was tabled at the August council meeting.
“The report states exactly how many claims derive from employee negligence. I have stated before that the Key Performance Indicators (KPI) of officials be measured against these analysis.
“This will ensure that officials take more responsibility regarding the submission of claims.”
Cllr Meyer compared the insurance statistics in previous reports and comes to the conclusion that for the last three months there were 399 claims amounting to R5-million of which 221 involved controllable assets and 178 vehicles.
“This is shocking. The most worrying part of this report is the fact that all departments need to claim within thirty days. Not doing so results in the insurance company repudiating the claims. The cost of the claim is then for the relevant department’s account.
“The costs of these claims can be regarded as fruitless expenditure under the Municipal Finance Management Act,” says Cllr Meyer.
According to the report the Metro police had to pay more than R800 000 for losses out of their own departmental budget, during the last three months.
“For the last three months, theft and computer theft alone, resulted in 130 claims costing this council R2,2-million.
“Vehicle claims due to accidents increased with 21%.”
She asks how can anyone walk out unnoticed with council equipment and not be confronted?
“More worrying, is the fact that the Metro Police department, our so-called ‘gatekeepers of the good’, had a fidelity claim of R246 000.”
“This department also claims R200 000 for lightning damage to the CCTV system. Is there no protective system in place for this expensive project?”
Cllr Meyer concludes she wants to donate a large floating trophy.
“On this trophy the words would be ‘This department and its employees are deemed as losers’.
“The Metro Police, will be the first recipients for they lost the most money due to delayed claims.
“The electricity department gets, as consolation prize - a box of over-ripe bananas, for coming phenomenally close to second.”