Staggering R5 billion in irregular expenditure will hurt poor: DA
Tuesday’s Auditor-General briefing on the audit outcomes of the health sector for the 2014/15 financial year revealed a shocking 442% increase in irregular expenditure in a mere 12 months‚ the Democratic Alliance says. It said that “Expenditure in contravention of key legislation” had increased from R941‚269‚000 in 2013/2014 to R5‚100‚138‚000 in 2014/2015.“Such wasteful expenditure is shocking when there currently exists an insufficient supply of ambulances‚ health practitioners and properly equipped facilities‚” said DA deputy spokesman on health Heinrich Volmink.He said the DA would request that the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) investigate this “unacceptable state of affairs” as soon as possible.“Despite the A-G repeatedly condemning the lack of political leadership and timely responsiveness with regard to improving audit outcomes year after year‚ the department has failed to act within the framework of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) to ensure the timely provision of quality information and to eliminate the wasteful use of public money and resources.“According to the A-G’s briefing‚ a staggering total of R319 million in ‘fruitless and wasteful expenditure’ by provinces was recorded in 2014/2015 with the Gauteng and Eastern Cape provinces wasting R159 million and R74 million respectively.“Moreover‚ during the same period‚ the total unauthorised expenditure reached R594 million‚ with KwaZulu-Natal and North West provinces being the largest contributors at R127 million and R262 million respectively‚” Volmink said.He said such gross and negligent spending by provincial health departments was an affront to communities who depended on the government for treatment when they became ill.“South Africans deserve access to quality healthcare across the entire country. When ANC-led provincial governments waste money in this way they hurt the poor‚ and prevent quality treatment. The DA will do everything possible to ensure that this is brought to an end‚ so that every person can live a life they value.”..
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