Staff reporter
Bloemfontein – The South African Institute of Charted Accounts (SAICA) has confirmed an investigation into Masechaba Sesing, Head Of Department at Free State Treasury.
This follows an article published last week, 15 days after we asked the accounting body to confirm if Sesing is their member.
We provided the name SAICA say it’s correct on the 3 July 2023 but days and weeks past without any response, only after we published the story then they respond.
Through their Chief Executive Officer, Freeman Nomvalo, SAICA starts by clarifying the confusion.
“First, the miscommunication of the member’s name in your original enquiry led to confusion, as the name provided did not match our member data records, and we, therefore, confirmed that she was not our member.
Following your communication about her other name, we can confirm that she is a SAICA member, and does fall under our jurisdiction.”
Then Nomvalo goes text book on the period of the alleged misconduct and jurisdiction.
“SAICA can only investigate allegations against the individual if he or she was a member at the time of the alleged acts and/or omissions. SAICA accordingly, upon receipt of the correct name of the member, had to first confirm that we had the relevant jurisdiction over any alleged period of misconduct.
SAICA takes all allegations against its members seriously and investigates all matters to ensure that those who are in contravention of the SAICA Code of Professional Conduct are held accountable.”
According to Nomvalo, SAICA can not subpoena and/or seize.
“Kindly also note that SAICA has no powers of search, seizure, and/or subpoena, and we therefore rely on the information provided by complainants; prosecutorial authorities, and other parallel processes. Therefore, without proper information; facts, and evidence we are not in a position to bring complaints against members and cannot optimally conclude our investigation process.
Further, the media article referenced an ongoing investigation by the Public Service Commission. SAICA is following the matter in the media and continues to investigate the matter to the extent that the Parties cooperate but will be greatly assisted by the conclusion of the Public Service Commission investigation.
SAICA has reached out to the member regarding the media articles implicating her and invited her to provide her version regarding the allegations contained in the media article. We confirm that the member has provided SAICA with an initial response and will be submitting further information in due course for us to consider.”
In conclusion Nomvalo says SAICA can not comment on any member who is the subject of an ongoing investigation.
“In the interest of procedural fairness and as prescribed in the SAICA by-laws, SAICA cannot comment publicly, either in the traditional media or on social media, on any member who is the subject of an ongoing investigation, unless otherwise provided for under the by-laws.
This protects the reputation of the individual members involved (who may well be innocent) and safeguards third parties who may be mentioned in a complaint but who have no opportunity, as non-members of SAICA, to explain themselves during the Institute’s disciplinary process.”
What is of serious concern is had we not sent media inquiries SAICA would have just dropped the case as if nothing happened because of the surnames.
They can do better than this if they want to be taken serious, as if that’s enough now PSC must do the work for them.
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