Gauteng’s R43 billion irregular expenditure crisis deepens – DA – POLITICS

Prime Minister Panyaza Lesufi must urgently address growing allegations of withholding damning forensic reports from public scrutiny, as well as his inability to properly oversee Gauteng departments. As the executive body of the province, Lesufi is responsible for ensuring that government officials are held accountable for their performance and that departments are managed effectively to prevent misuse of public funds.

The lack of accountability under his leadership has contributed to Gauteng’s financial and administrative instability. This continued inaction has exacerbated the province’s governance crisis, and the people of Gauteng deserve answers.

The best indicator of a department’s financial and administrative health is irregular expenditure, which is transactions that violate legislation or policy. These violations, especially in procurement, where laws surrounding the selection of service providers or pricing are flouted, serve as warning signs of potential corruption.

The consequences of these shortcomings are serious: they undermine financial accountability and governance, jeopardize service delivery and increase the risk of corruption, potentially leading to financial losses.