A Closer Look at the Manyane Game Lodge Project

The Manyane Game Lodge project has financial issues due to inadequate monitoring and evaluation, escalating irregular expenditure, and unaccounted-for assets. The project’s budget has surged to an alarming R71 million, and an extra R24 million is needed to complete the project. The Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation, and Tourism, in collaboration with the Department of Public Works, has pledged to resolve the problems and deliver a thorough report to the committee. The ongoing probe highlights the critical need for accountability, transparency, and sound financial management in public ventures.

Financial Mismanagement and Future Actions: The Manyane Game Lodge project is facing severe financial issues due to inadequate monitoring and evaluation, escalating irregular expenditure, and unaccounted-for assets. The total irregular expenditure amounts to R116 858 000 million, and an extra R24 million is needed to complete the project. The Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation, and Tourism, in collaboration with the Department of Public Works, has pledged to resolve the problems and deliver a thorough report to the committee.

Recent Developments and Monetary Concerns

The Manyane Game Lodge in Mahikeng represents a significant venture that has recently come under intense examination. With an initial budget of R47 million, the project, which started in the fiscal year of 2016/17, has experienced a series of setbacks and delays. As a result, the project’s budget has surged to an alarming R71 million, necessitating an extra R24 million to bring it to completion.

The North West Provincial Legislature Standing Committee on Provincial Public Accounts (SCOPA), spearheaded by Hon. Job Dliso, made a subsequent oversight visit to the ongoing project. This site visit, penciled in for Monday, 27 November 2023, closely follows a previous inspection that took place on Friday, 24 November 2023.

Oversight Findings and Accountability Concerns

The findings from these visits unveiled a disconcerting state of affairs. The Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation, and Tourism, in concert with the Department of Public Works, appeared to have inadequately monitored and evaluated the project. This creates serious doubts about the effectiveness of the control mechanisms within the supply chain management processes. More concerningly, funds allocated to the project have remained unaudited, and the project’s value for money is seemingly absent.

Expressing his worries, Hon. Dliso commented, “The fact that the department is planning to shell out additional funds without holding anyone responsible for the protracted delays spanning over six financial years is deeply troubling.”

But the troubles besetting the Manyane Game Lodge project do not stop here. The Provincial Public Accounts Committee has also drawn attention to the escalating irregular expenditure and the issue of unaccounted-for assets at the lodge. Hon. Dliso revealed an audit finding that showed a decline in the project’s financial statements from an unqualified audit opinion to a qualified one in the past two financial years.

Financial Mismanagement and Future Actions

Further compounding the financial chaos, the Taung Skull Project, which was transferred from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, was lacking the necessary supporting documentation. The absence of a detailed valuation breakdown for a payment transfer totalling R25 501 136 to the Taung Skull Project further magnified the issues.

Addressing the ongoing probe, MEC for the Department, Virginia Tlhapi, pledged to deliver a thorough report to the committee. She reiterated her department’s commitment to resolving the problems, stating, “We have also instituted a monitoring mechanism to track the progress and continuous developments of the project.”

In conclusion, the outstanding queries surrounding the Manyane Game Lodge project underscore the critical need for accountability, transparency, and sound financial management in public ventures. With the project accounting for an astronomical irregular expenditure of R116 858 000 million, including R17 million incurred in the current year, it remains to be seen how the department intends to resolve this predicament. The forthcoming meeting scheduled at the project site at 09h00+ will undoubtedly attract the attention of the media and the public.

1. What financial issues does the Manyane Game Lodge project have?

The Manyane Game Lodge project has financial issues due to inadequate monitoring and evaluation, escalating irregular expenditure, and unaccounted-for assets.

2. What is the current budget for the Manyane Game Lodge project?

The project’s budget has surged to an alarming R71 million, and an extra R24 million is needed to complete the project.

3. Who is responsible for resolving the Manyane Game Lodge project’s issues?

The Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation, and Tourism, in collaboration with the Department of Public Works, has pledged to resolve the problems and deliver a thorough report to the committee.

4. What issues were uncovered during the oversight visits to the Manyane Game Lodge project?

The oversight visits unveiled inadequate monitoring and evaluation of the project, unaudited funds allocated to the project, escalating irregular expenditure, and the issue of unaccounted-for assets at the lodge.

5. What did the audit finding show about the Manyane Game Lodge project’s financial statements?

The audit finding showed a decline in the project’s financial statements from an unqualified audit opinion to a qualified one in the past two financial years.

6. What steps has the Department taken to address the Manyane Game Lodge project’s issues?

The MEC for the Department, Virginia Tlhapi, pledged to deliver a thorough report to the committee and instituted a monitoring mechanism to track the progress and continuous developments of the project.