Mohale FM A LOCALLY registered company owned by Chinese, Atlantic Hi-Tech, is alleged to have defrauded the government more than M11.7 million in lost revenue through the collection of inflated resident permit fees, while continuing to operate despite an expired contract.
The allegations surfaced last week during a sitting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), where Auditor-General ’Mathabo Makenete and her team appeared to explain findings contained in the government audit reports for the financial years ending 31 March 2023 and 31 March 2024.
Ms Makenete was accompanied by Deputy Auditor-General, Paul Letlela, and other officials from the Office of the Auditor-General. In both reports, the Auditor-General issued adverse audit opinions, stating that the government’s consolidated financial statements did not fairly present its financial position.
The reports highlighted unreconciled balances amounting to M3.49 billion for the 2022/23 financial year and M3.09 billion for 2023/24. However, one of the findings that drew sharp attention from PAC members related to the administration of resident permits by Atlantic Hi-Tech.
Mr Letlela told the committee that the government lost an estimated M11.78 million after Atlantic Hi-Tech allegedly collected resident permit fees contrary to the government regulations.
In her recommendations, Ms Makenete urged the Chief Accounting Officer (CAO) to develop a solution that protects both the government revenue and applicants while ensuring uninterrupted service delivery.
