Social development probe 'drags heels'

The expenditure was picked up by the provincial treasury. In correspondence between former finance MEC Phumulo Masualle and HoD Nombulelo Hackula, seen by the Daily Dispatch, Masualle is keen to see the results of a probe.

In a letter dated April 2, he says there has been no movement in investigating irregular expenditure at the department and calls for the investigations to be concluded.

Yesterday, social development spokesman Gcobani Maswana said the department was attending to the matter. “In 2012 the HoD established a committee to deal with all irregular expenditure backlogs,” he said, adding the bulk of the committee’s findings relating to the R36-million dated back to 2009.

“The amount is the result of not complying with the procurement process in advertising bids for infrastructure projects,” said Maswana, adding that it was the accounting officer’s job to ensure that mechanisms designed in line with National Treasury regulations were effected.

“This is to prevent irregular expenditure, failing which the accounting officer must be held accountable for failing to meet his responsibilities. This department also has an accumulated balance of R1.536-million in fruitless and wasteful expenditure.”

Masualle said an accounting officer had to recover the loss from the responsible parties.

“The debt recovery policy of the department must guide the steps followed in this regard.”

In its findings, the finance department said the failure to clear irregular and fruitless expenditure had been raised but it appeared that no action had been taken by social development. “It therefore becomes important that the issues raised receive immediate attention and further monitoring of any remedial action be taken.”

Treasury spokeswoman Nosisa Sogayise said she had no mandate to comment.

“The questions are better responded to by social development,” she said. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za