Media reports alleging its irregular expenditure for, among other things, manicures and pedicures, have targeted the wrong financial year, says the Department of Communications (DOC).
The Business Day this week published information from a leaked report by the auditor-general, which highlighted irregular expenditure by the DOC.
This includes R11 000 for manicures and pedicures, and R19 million to a travel company that did not have a proper contract with the department. The total amount incurred through irregular expenditure was R26.2 million.
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Democratic Alliance shadow minister of communications Natasha Michael has called on communications minister Roy Padayachie to explain the irregular expenditure and who the beauty treatments were for.
“The ministry has so far refused to comment, saying that it is an internal matter between the department and the auditor-general. This is not good enough. The people of SA have a right to know where their money is going. If it is going on beauty treatments for pampered officials, they should know about it,” says Michael.
She has threatened to launch a Promotion of Access to Information Act application should Padayachie not respond to her requests for clarity within seven working days.
“This government seems to forget that we live in a country of deep poverty and widespread unemployment. Keeping government officials well-groomed at the public's expense is not a priority.”
Wasn't me
The DOC, however, says it does wish to clarify the issues raised in the media since the expenditure is being attributed to the wrong financial year.
“The information reported on by Business Day occurred during the financial reporting period of 2006 and 2009.” This would have been during former ministers, late Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri's and Siphiwe Nyanda's, terms in the ministry.
Chief director of communications at the DOC Pearl Seopela says it should be noted that the reported transactions were audited in the financial year 2009/10 and due to irregularities found, a forensic process was undertaken to investigate what led to the irregularities.
“The irregularities which were identified have been investigated. The department is still waiting for the forensic report to act upon.”
The department has given no indication of when the forensic report is expected to be ready.
“We are all accountable to serve the needs and interests of the people of SA. We have the custodial responsibility of the department and diligently managing the resources of the department. We are determined to eliminate corruption and non-compliance of good corporate governance practices by public servants,” says Padayachie.
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