Forensic audit starts at Ikhwezi
2010-11-18
Anne Kruger
A FORENSIC audit of the finances of the troubled Ikhwezi community centre in Mbekweni has started, despite the disappearance of the financial records. The forensic audit, paid for by the German funders of the centre (the Lutheran Church in Rendsburg), has been undertaken after the financial statements were obtained from the bank. All records available have been handed over to PricewaterhouseCoopers so that the forensic audit can now begin in earnest, after many months of delay. The centre, which aims to create work in the community through handicrafts, is in dire financial straits as its funding has been cut off, pending the forensic audit which has been called for due to suspected financial irregularities. The manager of the centre, Titus Hendricks, resigned in September. In a unanimous statement released by the board of trustees of Ikhwezi, it has now been announced that the management portfolio will be handled by Pastor Peter Molchin of the local congregation of the Lutheran Church, who will assemble an interim management committee of trustworthy indiviuals to assist on a limited basis until further notice. Following a visit by a delegation from the Lutheran Diocese of Rendsburg (Northern Germany), Molchin expressed the board’s “great appreciation for their constructive critcism of Ikhwezi’s problems.” “The Board is fully committed to sorting out all issues requiring attention.” Said Henning Halver of Rendsburg, “After more than 20 years of ecumenical partnership we - as German friends of Ikhwezi - had to face the fact that funds were not used in the way intended by the donors. “In addition we realised that the financial report presented to us was not adequate. Therefore we had to stop all funding in December last year. “We recently visited Ikhwezi to talk with the different individuals and bodies involved in the centre and are glad that the board of trustees is facing the mismanagement that was uncovered in the past months and is willing to sort out the problems that led to the disruption of the functioning of the Ikhwezi project. “We are backing the decision of the trust to lay charges against anyone who has attempted to, or has committed fraud. “We deeply regret that those who most needed and still need the service of a social orientated and community based development centre suffer from a misuse of funds. “We as the German delegates continue to cherish the vision of Ikhwezi as a community centre which was founded to address the needs of disadvantaged people, to promote the social development of the community and the empowerment of individuals in the light of the Christian faith. “As soon as the results of the forensic audit are available and appropriate steps have been taken, we will try to convince the board of the Rendsburg Diocese that further support and funding of the Ikhwezi Community Centre should be given, so that a true, faithful and dedicated partnership can go on.” Ikhwezi Trust is offering a reward of R2500 for the full recovery of the stolen records and the conviction of the perpetrators. Information can be forwarded to Captain Selma Bredenhann of the Mbekweni police on 021-868-9926.
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