Wasteful expenditure: Justice suffers while officials forego training in favour of profligacy
A reply to a DA Parliamentary question to the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development has revealed that R301 088.56 has been wasted by officials in the Department on "no-shows" in respect of flights and accommodation, and an additional R56 609.01 by officials in the NPA.
On an analysis of the detail given in respect of the Justice Department, reasons were given in respect of some of the money, which appear to be valid. However, in respect of at least R185 618.11, no reasons at all appear to have been given.
The figure for the NPA did not reveal any reasons given, and most of the items are listed as "under investigation Security and risk".
Some of the more concerning cases include several where officials were delegates to courses which they failed to attend, but stayed at the hotel and even had meals there. One official was "indicated as sick on the attendance list", but remained in his hotel room for 5 days, and did not produce a sickness certificate.
Another stayed at the hotel for 4 days and did not attend the course, and yet another stayed at the hotel for 5 days and charged for meals, yet did not attend the course they were supposed to be there for. In one instance, R53 605,76 was spent on "no-shows".
It is clear that there is an attitude amongst some officials in the Department of Justice and the NPA that is incompatible with a government that purports to help people, especially the poor, to gain access to justice. The fact that these individuals did not attend the courses they were booked for shows that they do not care about improving their knowledge, thereby enhancing the performance of the department. The fact that they stayed and ate in hotels for the duration of the course they were not attending, shows that they do not care about wasting precious state funds, which could be used for more desperate needs, and regard it as their personal slush fund to do with as they please.
The only way to stop this is to hold them responsible for repayment of monies they have wasted without just excuse. We are pleased to see that the matters are reportedly under investigation by the Department. We shall be following up in due course as to precisely how much of this wasted expenditure has been recovered, and what other action has been taken against those involved.
We shall also be adding this to our wasteful expenditure monitor, and if we are not satisfied that sufficient action has been taken by the Department, will be referring it to the Public Protector.
Statement issued by Debbie Schafer, MP, Democratic Alliance Shadow Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, December 10 2010
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