KZN AGRICULTURE OVERSPENDS BY R100-MILLION

July 28, 2006

The IFP wishes to expose the continuing overexpenditure by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs in the 2005/2006 financial year, as reported by the Treasury. The total roll-over into the next financial year is a staggering R97-million.

"The IFP finds the figure shocking given the warning the parliamentary committee on Finance and Economic Development issued to the MEC well in advance of the Treasury report," said Ephraim Mbatha MPP who represents the IFP on that committee.

"This instance of departmental overexpenditure is not an isolated incident, indeed it represents a pattern. The MEC failed to report back to the committee following its vocal warning in June. The department blatantly continued to overspend," said Mbatha.

The overspent resources largely cover personnel discharge settlements. "There are, however, instances of funding of projects outside of the department's strategic plans. This is unacceptable," said Mbatha.

The IFP wants disciplinary action taken against the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs in terms of the Public Finance Management Act. "We will use our oversight role in the matter to expose and prevent future overexpenditure," said Mbatha.

Contact: Ephraim Mbatha, 082 971 5949