LIMPOPO – In just four years, Limpopo govt has paid R600m to officials, councillors, and their families according to a DA press release.
“In the last financial year, underperforming Limpopo municipalities paid R119m to public servants and those connected to them who do business with the state. This is despite the law signed late last year by President Jacob Zuma that prohibits public servants doing business with the state,” says Jacques Smalle, DA Limpopo Provincial Leader.
This emerged in the recent Auditor General’s opinion for the financial year 2013/14.
According to Smalle the opinion states that R116m was paid to councillors, municipal employees, and state employees and R3m paid to their close family members who are doing business with the government.
“R600 million has been taken from creating a better future for our citizens. Service delivery has also been compromised as a result,” says Smalle.
The DA says they believe in a government that implements fair and transparent tender processes and as long as government is reluctant to enforce laws that prevent state employees from doing business with the state, Limpopo small businesses will be deprived of fair economic opportunities.
In the Western Cape, the DA passed a law to prevent any form of business dealings between the state and its employees.
According to the Smalle, a similar bill was introduced in the Limpopo legislature in 2009 and 2011 but was shut down by the ANC.
The DA calls on Premier Stan Mathabatha to gazette and effect provincial legislation that will prevent state and municipal officials from doing business with the government and to hold individuals accountable for looting government funds.
The DA says they will continue to ask probing questions on government finances, to bring fairness to government spending and tender processes.
