Gaal incurs irregular expenditure of over R5m

A top official of Gateway Airports Authority Limited (Gaal) allegedly cost the entity an estimated amount of R17 586,85 in business trips and hiring of luxurious vehicles, adding to perceived irregular expenditure of R5 030 057 incurred by the entity in the previous financial year and R676 487 in 2016.
It was learned when the entity appeared before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) at the Parliamentary village on Tuesday that the employee in question did not provide supporting documents to prove the business trips hence the money used had to be recorded as irregular expenditure.
Gaal acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Willy Mathonsi stated they are in a process to recover the money used by the employee, adding that the construction contract for refurbishments resulted in irregular expenditure amounting to
R3 317 803 as the invitation for the tender was not published as required on the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) website.
He further said an installation of an automated public parking system cost R1 076 273 while the extension of contract for gardening service amounted to
R217 770 in irregular expenditure. He stated that all the matters relating to irregular expenditure would be investigated and a report forwarded to the entity’s risk and opportunity committee. The entity which was led by Transport and Community Safety MEC Makoma Makhurupetje failed to give adequate answers to the committee, persuading committee members to ask same questions several times hoping for better answers.
Scopa Chairperson, Snowy Kennedy-Monyemoratho gave the entity five minutes to restructure their answers as she indicated that the entity was not providing the committee with answers needed. She further said they wanted to know steps that will be taken to recover the money. Kennedy-Monyemoratho told Polokwane Observer that the hearing was postponed to a later date after the entity continued to provide the committee with inadequate answers.

Story & photo: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za