DA to probe three Limpopo departments for spending R70 million on catering and travelling
The R70 million was spent over a period of a year.
LIMPOPO – A statement realeased by the party says they have written to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) Chairwoman, Snowy Kennedy, to probe the three departments’ spending.
According to a written reply to the DA, the Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) spent R34 million on travelling and R1.8 million on catering, followed by the Department of Health with R32 million on travelling and R5 million on catering. The Department of Safety, Security and Liaison is also on the list with R8 million on travelling and R1.4 million on catering.
DA Provincial Spokesperson on Treasury, Langa Bodlani says it is clear that the departments orchestrated fiscal dumping into travelling and catering expenses to avoid underspending in this financial year.
According to Bodlani, the travelling expenses at LEDET have increased from R1.8 million in April to R4.7 million in March 2017, whilst catering increased from R9 440 to R386 431 for the same period.
The Department of Safety and Security also increased their travelling expenses from a mere R37 991 to R2.7 million and catering also increased from R2 920 to R328 839. The Department of Health’s travelling expenses is ranging between R 4.1 million to R4.2 million whilst catering ranges between R 315 000 and R414 000 on a monthly basis.
The DA believes that this exorbitant and shameful spending must be probed immediately, especially when one takes into account the latest poverty trends in South Africa which confirms that Limpopo has the highest levels of poverty between 2006 and 2015.
“It is scandalous that such huge amounts are wasted within our departments, when it could have contributed towards addressing the woeful state of affairs in the province by creating job opportunities and improving the lives of our people,” he said.
Bodlani says it is clear that the ANC government in Limpopo ignored the National Treasury department’s “belt-tightening measures” to all the departments and public entities to curb wasteful expenditure.
The DA have urged Kennedy to investigate further and ensure that all the implicated officials are held accountable.
