KZN government releases Covid-19 expenditure report

THE KwaZulu-Natal government became the first province in the country to release a report of all their Covid-19 expenditure. 

Sihle Zikalala, KZN Premier, revealed that the province has spent a total of R2.9 billion in Covid-19 funds as of 27 July. 

The report includes a list of all departments, contracts and suppliers. 

The figure includes municipalities, public entities and the provincial government. 

The eThekwini Municipality has spent a total of R447 398 million on Covid-19 related expenses, a majority of this went towards infrastructure. 

ALSO READ: KZN government misappropriates R30-million of Covid-19 funds

Zikalala said the report was part of the government’s promise to hold a “clean, transparent and accountable” office. 

“We continue to observe that in the public space there are efforts to portray the government as corrupt and irresponsible,” he said.

“We are fully aware of these efforts to divert society from the fundamental questions of radical economic transformation.”

The office of the premier has released summaries of two reports regarding Covid-19 expenditure.  

One summary revealed that the Department of Social Development squandered more than R30 million of Covid-19 funds, resulting in six senior managers being suspended. 

The second summary report found that the KZN Education of Department saved the government over R70 million in their shrewd negotiations with suppliers. 

ALSO READ: Commuters urged to wear masks and observe social distancing

Zikalala said 1.9 billion of the departmental spend went towards infrastructure programmes in schools and hospitals. 

“Many of these projects will benefit our communities long after the Covid-19 pandemic has passed,” he said.

The premier also announced that senior members in his office, including him, will be undergoing lifestyle audits very soon. 

The report can be found here: 

Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting

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At the time of going to press, the contents of this feature mirrored South Africa’s lockdown regulations.

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