Mpumalanga's Department of Education has squandered more than R2,6 billion in unauthorised and irregular expenditure over the last financial year.
In his written reply to questions from the FF Plus, the MEC for Education, Mr Bonakele Majuba, confirmed that by the end of October 2022, unauthorised expenditure had amounted to approximately R816 million.
The total amount for irregular expenditure had amounted to approximately R1,8 billion.
A large portion of the misappropriation consists of 249 cases relating to infrastructure projects, which include the construction of schools and hostels.
The Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport was the executive decision-maker for these projects. These 249 cases are currently being investigated by the Mpumalanga Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
There are still 70 out of the 249 cases that need to be finalised.
The Legislature's Portfolio Committee on Education ordered that these cases must be finalised within the next financial year.
Mpumalanga has the second-highest illiteracy rate in the country.
It is, therefore, unacceptable that the Department tasked with ensuring fair access to schools is unable to manage its own finances effectively.
The FF Plus submitted follow-up questions on the matter and will continue to put pressure on the Department to get its affairs in order for the sake of all Mpumalanga learners.