Welfare's wings clipped
2003-11-17 22:44
Pietermaritzburg - Officials of the KwaZulu-Natal social welfare department have had to cut down
on expensive trips and meetings in a bid to arrest the projected
R1.3bn over-expenditure at the end of this financial year.
Social welfare's Eric Mhlongo told the finance portfolio
committee: "We are expected to use 93% of our budget to pay social grants to our
clients. The balance goes towards other departmental
operations, including staff salaries."
The committee's chairperson, Cyril Xaba, said the departments of education and health had sacrificed portions of
their budgets to accommodate social welfare.
Mhlongo also pointed out that some corrupt officials and members of the
public defrauded the department.
The NNP's Tino Volker suggested the department
cut grants to prevent further over-expenditure.
- The Witness