The North West MEC of Economic Development Environment and Conservation, Bitsa Lenkopane, has expressed concern about recurring salary delays at the North-West Parks and Tourism Board (NWPTB).
According to the department, employees haven’t received their salaries for the month of February.
The entity has been facing several challenges, including poor governance, instability in the leadership and inability to generate revenue, among others.
The department spokesperson Jerry Matebesi said their surprised that the entity failed to pay employees’ salaries, although it received funding for the remainder of this financial year.
“This delayed payment of staff members is a recuring problem manifesting itself despite the advancement of funds by the department to the entity for the remaining quarter of the 2024/25 financial year.
It is unacceptable that the staff has not paid despite the money being transferred to the NWPTB,” said Matebesi.
The Department has since reported the mismanagement and poor governance at the entity to the Special Investigative Unit (SIU).
“A comprehensive investigation into the financial affairs of the NWPTB has been instituted and MEC Lenkopane is hopeful that the SIU will get to the bottom of this matter.
MEC Lenkopane has vowed that those who are found to have mismanaged and misappropriated funds at the NWPTB will be held accountable,” explained Matebesi.
In addition, Matebesi said the department has reached an agreement with the Provincial Treasury to pay the February salaries on Friday.