All Officials Must Fight Corruption

All municipal employees should join hands to fight corruption and wasteful expenditure, Alderman Maatje Malan, Finance Mayoral Committee Member of Cape Town said at the awards ceremony of the Institute of Municipal Finance Officers (IMFO).

About 1 300 delegates and observers from across South Africa attended the annual IMFO conference held in Cape Town's International Conference Centre the past three days. IMFO celebrated its 76th year of existence. Delegates included a large number of executive mayors, city managers, chief financial officers and senior officials from municipalities al l over the country.

Alderman Malan is the first Cape Town politician and sixth woman to be elected as Institute Council Member of IMFO, while the hosting Western Cape provincial structure received the trophy as Branch of the Year.

Alderman Malan charged municipal office bearers: "We all have to fight corruption and wasteful expenditure tooth and nail. We are well placed to take up this spear and to protect the resources of vulnerable people. Let us join hands to become one mighty army of champions of the people."

She thanked municipal employees for the work they are doing to the benefit of citizens. "You sacrifice much of your personal time to serve your residents. I salute every one of you. We must always be accountable to our residents. After all: We are their servants".

She paid homage to the unsung hero's of municipalities. "To all those women and men in the background, who never get any recognition, but do their best and daily bit to make a real difference in the lives of people."

On the need for more skills and skills transfer at municipalities, Alderman Malan said: "We in South Africa have such a vast array of talent available from competent professionals. We need to utilise this to its full potential."

Referring to the new Supply Chain Management processes at municipal level she said:. "This should now be more transparent and open to scrutiny than ever before. We must also be able to deliver more and faster."

Alderman Malan went on to say: "I am encouraged to see so many women at this conference - especially since it is also Women's Month. When we shape local government for the 21st century, women have a significant role to play. We have to make sure we get more responsive systems to meet the needs of our people."

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