Rising irregular expenditure: DA calls for premier’s head
"We are prepared to work around the clock, against all odds, and finally push a motion of no-confidence against Mathabatha at the next legislature sitting this week," threatened the DA.
LIMPOPO – The DA called for the Limpopo Premier and ANC Provincial Chairperson, Stanley Mathabatha to be relieved of his position this week after Mathabatha failed to take to task MECs and heads of departments whose departments performed dismally as was evident in reports from the Auditor General (AG).
DA Provincial Leader and Member of Parliament, Jacques Smalle, said: “Under Mathabatha’s watch, the Department of Health acquired a whopping R544 million of irregular expenditure in the 2014/15 financial year. The failure to adhere to the financial requirements is financial misconduct and amounts to a prosecutable offense,” Smalle said.
“Furthermore, contracts were awarded to suppliers whose tax matters have not been declared by SARS while other tenders were awarded without inviting competitive bids, and applying the preference point system.
“The cash shortfall of the department has worsened from R237 million in 2014/15 to R635 million in the 2015/16 financial year while the debtors also increased from R461 million in 2015 to R579 million in 2016.
“To further compound the matter, the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) incurred R8,8 million of fruitless and wasteful expenditure. A staggering R242 million of its budget was also under-spent due to the late appointment of service providers for housing contracts and a lack of proper planning and review by management,” Smalle continued.
According to the report by the AG, the Department of Agriculture had failed to account for money to the tune of R24,8 million which is regarded as irregular expenditure due to supply chain management (SCM). As if that was not enough, the same department faces litigation of more than R1,5 billion.
The DA said to add salt to injury, Mathabatha failed to take action against those fingered in spite of the fact that the province experienced a staggering R7,6 billion in unauthorised and wasteful expenditure in the past three years while he has been leading the province.
“We are prepared to work around the clock, against all odds, and finally push a motion of no-confidence against Mathabatha at the next legislature sitting this week,” threatened the DA.
According to the AG report, of Mahabatha’s 13 departments, eight of them got unqualified audit opinions, four qualified and one (education) disclaimer.
In response, Mathabatha’s office branded the DA’s call for resignation as stupid and lacking substance.
“‘For the first time in 10 years, the Office of the Premier got its first clean audit in the 2014/15 audit year. It got an unqualified audit this year, which, though down from last year, is still the best. Limpopo people should rest assured that their monies are in better hands, and the province is in better shape than ever before,” promised Mathabatha.
Spokesperson for the Limpopo Government, Phuti Seloba, said: “In 2011 and 2012, three government departments received disclaimers and the premier has been cracking the whip, emphasising that this disclaimer is deliberate and those responsible or irresponsible need to account.
The disclaimer report which the Department of Education received was the fifth consecutive year they have received a disclaimer.
“The Premier is leading the province to greater heights. Our wish is for everyone in the province, the DA included, to contribute positively towards a prosperous Limpopo,” Seloba concluded.
