A review of the latest national government departments' annual reports reveals that more than R427.4 million has been incurred in fruitless and wasteful expenditure in the 2010/11 financial year.
Democratic Alliance (DA) national spokesperson Lindiwe Mazibuko said this was a 1600% increase from last year when, according to the Auditor-General's Report on National Audit Outcomes, the figure stood at R26.6 million.
A list of expenditure deemed wasteful and fruitless by the Auditor-General in the annual reports of national departments showed the following amounts wasted: Home Affairs - R334,640,000; Rural Development & Land Reform - R73,406,000; Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries - R12,199,000; Health - R2,556,000; Basic Education - R376,000; Communications - R1,438,000; Cooperative Governance & Traditional Affairs - R336,000; Correctional Services - R6000; Economic Development - R27,000; Justice & Constitutional Development - R849,000; Police - R771,000; Public Enterprises - R4,000; Public Service & Administration - R311,000; Science & Technology - R110; Social Development - R7,000; Transport - R12,000; Water Affairs - R369,000.
Mazibuko said that had reasonable care been exercised, this R427 million could have been directed towards improving the livelihoods of thousands, as it could have built about 7,000 houses, 10 new schools, and could provide salaries for 2,500 teachers.
The DA's analysis did not include the Departments of Sports and Recreation, State Security, and Women, Youth, Children and People with Disabilities. These departments have yet to table their annual reports, despite the passing of the deadline for tabling in Parliament on 30 September.
In July 2010, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe announced that a task team would be established to prepare recommendations for Cabinet on wasteful expenditure. Nothing has happened.
“In the meantime, while we wait to hear from the Deputy President, wasteful expenditure is rising exponentially,” Mazibuko said.
Mazibuko also said that she had written to Deputy President Motlanthe, requesting feedback on the progress of the task team he promised to establish.
“If this latest revelation does not kick his office into gear, then nothing will,” she said. - I-Net Bridge