Probe recommends disciplinary action against NYC director
National Youth Council (NYC) director Calista Schwartz-Gowases has been fingered in an audit report for her role in entering the council into a contract without following proper procurement procedures and acting outside the ambit of set standards.
She sidelined the NYC’s internal tender committee and concluded a contract with contractor Joevani Properties without financial provisions having been made, a report by auditing firm PwC noted.
“[Schwartz-Gowases] entered into a contract on 9 February 2018 with Jeovani Properties, binding NYC to services amounting to N$471 701.53 without provision made in the budget and/or board approval. She did not comply with the finance procedures, which state that if there is insufficient budget for an emergency issue, board approval should be obtained,” it said.
Internal tender committee excluded
The bid was supposed to be handled by the NYC internal tender committee, but had been concluded without its recommendations, it said.
“The procurement policy states that the internal tender committee should recommend to the director [Schwartz-Gowases] for all procurements to be done by the council,” PwC said.
The report further noted that Schwartz-Gowases did not comply with policies and procedures by failing to obtain board approval. Furthermore, there was no budget for the contracted services.
Take action
The NYC had been advised to take disciplinary action against Schwartz-Gowases relating to the alleged procurement irregularities.
“We recommend that the board, after consulting with their legal representatives and acting solely on their advice, consider initiating disciplinary action against [Schwartz-Gowases],” the report read.
The recommended disciplinary action was over her failing to comply with the Procurement Act by not appointing a committee to evaluate the quotation and make recommendations to her on the procurement of renovations from Joevani Properties, and committing NYC to the contract when no budget provision was made.
The second recommendation was over Schwartz-Gowases bypassing NYC finance manager Elatfun Hamukoto, who was supposed to confirm whether the submission was within budget.
NYC spokesperson Brian Prince did not respond to a query on the matter.
She sidelined the NYC’s internal tender committee and concluded a contract with contractor Joevani Properties without financial provisions having been made, a report by auditing firm PwC noted.
“[Schwartz-Gowases] entered into a contract on 9 February 2018 with Jeovani Properties, binding NYC to services amounting to N$471 701.53 without provision made in the budget and/or board approval. She did not comply with the finance procedures, which state that if there is insufficient budget for an emergency issue, board approval should be obtained,” it said.
Internal tender committee excluded
The bid was supposed to be handled by the NYC internal tender committee, but had been concluded without its recommendations, it said.
“The procurement policy states that the internal tender committee should recommend to the director [Schwartz-Gowases] for all procurements to be done by the council,” PwC said.
The report further noted that Schwartz-Gowases did not comply with policies and procedures by failing to obtain board approval. Furthermore, there was no budget for the contracted services.
Take action
The NYC had been advised to take disciplinary action against Schwartz-Gowases relating to the alleged procurement irregularities.
“We recommend that the board, after consulting with their legal representatives and acting solely on their advice, consider initiating disciplinary action against [Schwartz-Gowases],” the report read.
The recommended disciplinary action was over her failing to comply with the Procurement Act by not appointing a committee to evaluate the quotation and make recommendations to her on the procurement of renovations from Joevani Properties, and committing NYC to the contract when no budget provision was made.
The second recommendation was over Schwartz-Gowases bypassing NYC finance manager Elatfun Hamukoto, who was supposed to confirm whether the submission was within budget.
NYC spokesperson Brian Prince did not respond to a query on the matter.
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