Written explanation from the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry in terms of section 65(2)(a)
of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1 of 1999), setting out reasons why the Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry were not tabled in time:
Ms F N Ginwala, MP
Speaker
National Assembly
P O Box 15
CAPE TOWN
8000
Madam Speaker
TABLING OF ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR 2000/01
I am writing in reply to your letter of 19 November 2001 in the above regard in which you pointed out that in terms of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act 1 of 1999), the annual reports and financial statements of departments must be tabled in Parliament within six months of the end of the financial year, failing which the Minister must in terms of Section 65(2)(a) of the Act, table a written explanation in Parliament to give reasons why they were not tabled.
As the Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry for the 2000/01 financial year were only tabled in Parliament on 12 November 2001, I wish to offer my apologies for not making the six month deadline. The reason for the late tabling of the Report and Statements is that there was a delay resulting from the Auditor-General's approval of the Department's accounts.
I have taken the matter up with the Director-General: Water Affairs and Forestry and have instructed him to ensure that the deadline is complied with in future.
RONNIE KASRILS MP
MINISTER OF WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY