DA: Why was Limpopo left unchecked?

2012-01-19 20:06

Polokwane - The Limpopo provincial government was left unchecked as it squandered billions of rands when it should have been stopped, the DA said on Thursday.

Spokesperson James Lorimer said Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan should have enforced the regulations of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) far earlier.

"Questions can legitimately be asked why the PFMA was only enforced in Limpopo when Premier Cassel Mathale decided to take on President Jacob Zuma."

His remarks follow a briefing by Gordhan in Limpopo earlier in the day. The national government placed five Limpopo departments under administration in December last year because of billions of rands in wasted spending.

R1.5bn of unauthorised expenditure

He asked why the national treasury was silent when R1.5bn of unauthorised expenditure was identified in 2009.

"This inaction led to the complete collapse of Limpopo's public service infrastructure and should serve as a lesson to government."

Lorimer called on Gordhan to target other provinces where corruption and mismanagement were apparent. Monitoring systems that flagged irregular and unauthorised expenditure had to be put in place.

Public sector accounting officers should face misconduct charges for negligence if they failed to implement the PFMA, he said. There had to be a regular report back by those in charge to the treasury on how they were policing the act.

"South Africa has a progressive law to prevent mismanagement and corruption," Lorimer said.

Sustained government commitment was needed to ensure that other provinces did not become like Limpopo.

- SAPA