While poor service delivery and inadequate infrastructure are paralysing the Free State, its provincial departments underspent R506 million in the previous financial year (2021/22).
On Tuesday during a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee, the Free State Treasury acknowledged that service delivery is hampered by provincial departments' failure to effectively spend their budgets.
Funds were underspent on infrastructure development and maintenance, and service delivery projects, while R708 million was overspent on the budget for salaries.
Thus, taxpayers' money is squandered on officials who are unable to effectively implement budgets and ensure proper service delivery.
The provincial government's underspending proves that the ANC cannot manage a budget, even if more money were to be allocated to the province.
The Free State's problems are not caused by a lack of funds, but are instead attributable to mismanagement and incompetence.
In the coming week, the FF Plus will demand that all provincial departments, including the Office of the Premier, must clarify why the money meant for the people of the Free State is not used for their benefit.
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