Gauteng DSD constantly underspends while the vulnerable members of this province suffer

1 March 2020

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is deeply concerned that the Gauteng Department of Social Development constantly underspends on its budget.

This was revealed in the department’s third quarterly report for the 2019/20 financial year.

According to the report, the department has underspent by R552,8 million.

The department has underspent across all its programmes, yet they are unable to provide funding to NGOs who are in desperate need of funds.

The department underspent R 189,8 million in Programme Three: Children and Families.  In Programme Five: Development and Research, they underspent by R174,1 million and R109,5 million on Programme One: Administration. The department also underspent R56,7 million on Programme Four: Restorative Services and R24,4 million on Programme Two: Social Welfare Services.

Under expenditure of the allocated budget has become a norm for this department and can no longer be tolerated.

In the 2017/18 financial the department underspent by R104,4 million and in 2018/19 financial year, the under expenditure increased to R419,1 million.

Despite the department’s under expenditure and underperformance the Head of Department’s contract has been renewed. This clearly indicates a lack of consequence management.

This department lacks a political captain to lead and oversee the functions of this department because the current Acting MEC Panyaza Lesufi has a lot on his plate.

We will continue to put pressure on Gauteng Premier, David Makhura to appoint a full time MEC for the department to ensure that social services are delivered to our people.

Issued by Refiloe Nt’sekhe, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Social Development, 1 March 2020