By Thokozani Mazibuko
A scathing report from the Auditor General’s office has highlighted a worrying trend of excessive spending by government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
According to the report, it has become a norm for these institutions to overspend their allocated budgets or engage in activities not provided for in their appropriations.
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Auditor General Timothy Matsebula revealed that the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Jabulani Buyisile Mabuza, had drawn attention to this issue, warning that it was a serious breach of financial regulations.
The Speaker had informed the accountant-General and the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Finance about the problem.
The report revealed a staggering figure of E965,976,973.10 in unappropriated (unauthorised) excess expenditure on recurrent votes.
This is a significant amount that could have been put to better use in supporting other important government initiatives.
The Auditor General’s report has sparked concerns about the lack of accountability and transparency in government spending.
It raises questions about the ability of the government to manage its finances effectively and make prudent decisions about how to allocate resources.
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“This is a matter of great concern and requires immediate attention,” said a government insider. “We need to get our financial house in order to ensure that our spending is aligned with our priorities.”
The report is expected to spark a debate about the need for stricter financial controls and more effective oversight mechanisms to prevent such excesses in the future.
