Public officials pilfer R29.4 million in public funds
13 May 2016
A recent presentation by the Public Service Commission (PSC) to the Standing Committee on Appropriations has found that R29.4 million was lost due to financial misconduct and R32 million was paid to suspended officials in 2014/2015, and that 31% of HODs in the Public Service have not entered into performance agreements with their executing authorities in 2015/2016.
Departments in which more than R2 million was not recovered in financial misconduct cases:
|
Departments |
2014/15 |
|
Water and Sanitation |
R 9 563 202.70 |
|
Telecommunications and Postal Services |
R 4 962 126.99 |
|
National Prosecuting Authority |
R 5 354 134.28 |
|
Defence |
R 2 787 985.97 |
|
Labour |
R 2 710 817.77 |
|
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries |
R 2 044 590.34 |
With 8.2 million South Africans unemployed and the current dire state of our economy, every cent of the public’s money should be put to good use.
The PSC also found that many departments failed to reach their own Annual Performance Plan targets whilst still spending millions. The top offender in the previous financial year was the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services, spending nearly 98% of its budget and achieving only 24% of its targets. Public Works spent nearly all of its budget and achieved a pitiful 42%.
|
Department |
% Achieved |
% Expenditure |
|
Energy |
28.6% |
83.6% |
|
Public Works |
42.4% |
98.4% |
|
Telecommunications and Postal Services |
24.1% |
97.5% |
|
Women Children and People with Disabilities |
36.4% |
99.0% |
A government that doesn’t reach its own targets, or even come close to reaching them, is a government that doesn’t work. A government that wastes millions every year is a government that simply doesn’t care.
On 3 August 2016, South Africans will have the opportunity to vote for a DA government that is accountable and committed to quality service delivery.
Issued by Malcolm Figg, DA Member on Appropriations Committee, 13 May 2016
