MF tackles education
Mrs Rajbansi continued it was clear that more should to be done at senior management level to bring the department’s financial management in line with accepted procedures and practices.
Shameen Thakur-Rajbansi, Leader of the Minority Front expressed grave concern about the financial management within the Department of Education as presented at the 2014/2015 mid-year review hearings.
Mrs Rajbansi said the Auditor Generals findings are significant. The department has received qualified audit opinions for the last three years. Capped leave commitments were understated by R127-million and the Auditor General’s (AG) findings further indicated the number of leave days on PERSAL system could not be satisfactorily traced back to the hard copy files.
The AG further cited other areas as ‘Matters of Emphasis’, including, irregular expenditure amounting to R2.68-billion and unauthorised expenditure amounting to R260-million that was incurred.
Irregular expenditure resulted by not following proper supply chain management (SCM) procedures, included photocopier rental at two education centres totalling more than R560 000 made to one supplier. Other areas included security, catering, cleaning and gardening services, all made to recurring suppliers.
Of grave concern was that in one district, a finance directorate ignored SCM procedures amounting to more than R4,6-million and other examples where an amount of more than R1,2-million awarded, without obtaining three quotes.
More distressing was that almost R219-million was spent by the department doing business with employees or related parties.
Mrs Rajbansi continued it was clear that more should to be done at senior management level to bring the department’s financial management in line with accepted procedures and practices. In the absence of strong fiscal policy and discipline, difficulties arose.
She said that education was key to people development and economic growth.
