Gauteng Department of Sports spends over R70 million on unknown equipment

24 May 2023

The Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation (SACR) has failed to outline exactly the type of equipment purchased for over R70 million in the past three financial years.

This raises questions about whether the money has been spent on procuring the equipment or has been looted.

This information was revealed in a written reply by the Gauteng MEC for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation (SACR), Morakane Mosupyoe, to questions tabled by the DA in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL).

According to the department, they are in the process of consolidating and verifying procurement information over the past three years.

The department spent the following monies for sports and recreation and cultural affairs equipment in the past three financial years:

- 2020/21 financial year: R20 115 586,95 was spent on sports and creation equipment, and R5 382 099.73 on cultural affairs equipment.

- 2021/22 financial year: R22 538 661,15 was spent on sports and recreation equipment, and R4 297 274,09 was spent on cultural affairs equipment.

- 2022/23 financial year: R19 111 401,93 was spent on sports and recreation equipment, and R3 320 254,81 was spent on cultural affairs equipment.

It is concerning that the department is only verifying now after we have tabled questions. This shows that this department is failing to follow proper internal procurement processes.

The DA demands that the department fast-track the consolidation and verification processes to provide details of the purchased equipment.

We will also table follow-up questions to ascertain when will the consolidation process be completed. We need the details of all the equipment that was procured and the list of beneficiaries.

Should it be found that there is no equipment that was procured and that there was no value for money, the officials involved must be disciplined.

Issued by Kingsol Chabalala, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation (SACR), 24 May 2023