Auditor General (AG) Junias Kandjeke has commenced a forensic audit into the books of August 26, a company that has failed to account for public funds since 1998.
Kandjeke revealed this on Thursday in an exclusive interview with Nampa, where he highlighted that his office has started work in auditing the company’s books and the reports will be published once done.
“I will comment further on the matter when the time is right, but yes, we are mandated to audit August 26 and we will do it to the best of our capabilities,” Kandjeke said.
Newly-appointed Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Frans Kapofi said audits into August 26 are welcomed.
“There is no problem from our side. It the statutory obligations of the AG to audit August 26 and they must do just that. As the line ministry, we, of course, welcome that,” Kapofi said.
August 26 and its subsidiaries have been at the centre of public criticism for their lack of accountability despite the fact that they have been recipients of multimillion-dollar Government contracts. Several opposition leaders including Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) president and leader of the Official Opposition, McHenry Venaani on separate occasions called for the institution to be audited like any other public enterprise.
Last year, Ombudsman John Walters conducted investigations into the affairs of the company where he found that consecutive boards of August 26 Holding Company (PTY) Ltd failed since its incorporation on 14 August 1998 to submit annual reports to the portfolio ministers. In the event they did, the portfolio ministers failed to submit these annual reports to the National Assembly.
Walters subsequently wrote to Public Enterprises Minister Leon Jooste recommending that he takes appropriate action or steps to remedy or correct the issue of unaccountability at August 26 by directing a special investigation to be conducted in relation to the failings and other matters concerning the business, trade, dealings, affairs, assets or liabilities of the defaulting public enterprise and inform the Ombudsman and the public on the outcome of the investigation.
Walters further wrote to Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and President Hage Geingob recommending that the August 26 companies be audited.
Source: Namibia Press Agency
