The KwaZulu-Natal Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) has referred R11 million worth of unauthorised expenditure from 2022 and 2023 to the legislature for further debate on Tuesday.

The total unauthorised expenditure for the 2022/23 financial year was R11 million, with the direct charge recommended against the Provincial Revenue Fund for the same amount payable over seven years. 

The departments that incurred the expenditure were: 

• Education – R4 million. 
• Department of Human Settlements – R6.8 million.   
• Department of Community Safety and Liaison – R65,000. 

Khabo Mkhwanazi, Scopa committee coordinator, explained that the first resolution on unauthorised expenditure was adopted in May 2023. The recommendation by the committee was that the department must pay back the money for the five-year term.

In March 2024, the committee extended the payment period by another two years. Mkhwanazi said civil and criminal charges were opened.

S’Thembiso Magubane, MPL and uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) member, said that most of the current MPLs on Scopa were not part of the previous administration and not familiar with what had happened.

Magubane requested minutes of the meeting that took place. 

“We must get a clear picture before we can make a firm decision. When you look at the figures, they have increased over the years. This is affecting the current financial year budgets.” 

Celiwe Madlopha, ANCMPL, stated that the current ministers were affected by the long-drawn-out resolutions. 

“What led to these continuous challenges? Could it be the Covid-19 pandemic that diverted funds from the budget? This matter must be taken to the legislature for further discussion. At the legislature, we will get all the information,” she said. 

MKP  MPLSiphiwe Mbatha also requested the minutes of the meeting to allow Scopa to deliberate on the matter.

“We need to discuss the matter here at the committee before we go to the legislature. We need to know what happened,” he said. 

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za

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