The Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) gathered at Cape Winelands District Municipality (CWDM), Stellenbosch on Tuesday, 22 July 2025, together with the Senior Management Team (SMT) to review the AG reports, internal audit reports and comments made by the SMT and audit committee.
It is important to understand who the MPAC is and the role they play within CWDM.
MPAC is the Municipal Public Accounts Committee, established in terms of the Municipal Structures Act 3 of 2021, section 79(A) MPAC is therefore a section 79 committee and is the main oversight body in terms of the guidelines issued by national treasury, CoGTA and SALGA in 2012.
The MPAC comprises of nine councilors, who are elected in council, by councillors, to serve on the MPAC. Councillors elected are those with relevant knowledge of financial and governance issues. Secondly, council elects other nine members as secundis/ alternates of the official MPAC members. The Chairperson of MPAC is appointed by council, from the membership of the political parties represented in CWDM. However, the Executive Mayor, Executive Deputy Mayor, Speaker, Whip, Mayco members and the municipal officials are not allowed to be members of MPAC.
Their main roles and responsibilities include reviewing the AG reports, internal audit reports and comments made by the SMT and audit committee. All recommendations that come from this meeting are then submitted to the council via the MPAC for approval. It is their responsibility to ensure that the public is informed and provides the necessary assurance that money is being spent wisely and makes sure that assets are being managed properly. The MPAC is extremely important as it engages directly with the public and considers the views and comments from the public.
It is their job is to serve the public and work together with the public towards effective, efficient, and economical sustainable development. The MPAC of the CWDM promotes good governance, transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership.
Most importantly, the integrity of CWDM is imperative and it must be preserved up until we achieve our vision of a unified Cape Winelands of excellence for sustainable development.
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Image: MPAC Members from Left: Cllr Jaques Kriel, Cllr Hannes Smit, Cllr Barbara Janse, MPAC Chairperson Cllr Hector Yabo, Cllr Doreen Carolissen, (Ald) Sammy Goedeman, Cllr Attie Du Plessis and Cllr Thuso Mpulanyana.