ENHANCING PAC LINKS WITH CITIZENSDealing with the public and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)

1 December 2014

STAKEHOLDERS

The ExecutiveIncluding politicians and citizens.

The President

The Legislature

Watchdog organisations (Anti-corruption commission, Ombudsmen)

Civil Society Organisations (CSO)

The Media

The Judiciary

International Organisations

Business Groups

The Electorate

FINANCIAL SCRUTINY AND ACCOUNTABILITY CYCLE

The Executive is accountable to Parliament

The Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) audits the accounts of government departments and public funded institutions on behalf of Parliament

The SAI submits its reports to Parliament

The PAC scrutinizes audit reports on behalf of Parliament

Both the PAC and SAI form a structure through which the Parliament exercises oversight of the Executive. SAI briefs the PAC on the findings of the audit to enable the PAC to conduct further investigations through public hearings

Through a public hearing, the PAC calls witnesses to provide testimony in response to audit findings

Following hearings, the PAC compiles a committee report and tables it before Parliament for debate and approval

The Government is answerable to voters through Parliament and its oversight function (PAC)

SUPREME AUDIT INSTITUTION (SAI)

Produces reports that form the basis for PAC work

Technical support to PAC

Central role in public sector accountability

PAC gives the SAI reports parliamentary audience Increased pressure on the executive

Improved financial control and efficiency

Improved government performance

PAC pursues and follows up concerns raised by the SAI

MEDIA & CSO

Conduit to the wider public on PAC deliberations and conclusions

Investigative journalism Information supply

Journalistic research

Valuable suggestions on direction in which enquiries should follow

Mechanism of disseminating findings and recommendations

Exert additional pressure on politicians and civil servants for results

Strong direct influence on the executive translating to the civil service

Roundtable discussions between PAC, Media, CSO

Educate the media on responsible reporting

Refer to: Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM) – Eastern Cape, South Africa

GENERAL ELECTORATE

Interface with professional bodies Accountants

Engineers

Social Scientists

Economists

Public hearings Open PAC proceedings to the public

Through a public hearing, the PAC calls witnesses to provide testimony in response to audit findings

QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION

PRESENTER DETAILS

Clive M. Munemo CA(Z), RPA(Z)

Managing Consultant

Clive and Associates (Zimbabwe)

+263 773 022 673

clive@cliveandassociates.com

clive.munemo1