ActionSA is appalled, yet unsurprised, that the Northern Cape Provincial Government has once again failed its residents by returning a staggering R93 million to National Treasury. In a province plagued by crumbling infrastructure, a dire housing backlog, and an ailing healthcare system—this financial mismanagement is nothing short of a disgrace.
It is beyond comprehension that a province with the worst infrastructure in South Africa can afford to return funds that could have been used to fix its pothole-ridden roads—some of which resemble lunar craters more than transport routes. Roads that should be facilitating economic growth and service delivery are instead left to deteriorate while funds meant for their repair are sent back due to the incompetence of those in power.
The ANC-led administration in the Northern Cape has, once again, demonstrated that it lacks the ability to govern efficiently. This R93 million could have gone toward reducing the province’s endless housing waiting lists, giving hope to families who have been living in squalor for decades. It could have been used to employ desperately needed doctors in rural areas, where communities are forced to endure long queues and inadequate medical care. Yet, due to sheer negligence, this money will now be allocated to provinces that understand the value of proper fiscal management.
The question now is: Who will be held accountable for this failure? Where is the consequence management that government officials so often speak about but never implement? ActionSA has long championed the need for professionalism in the public service, ensuring that qualified individuals, not political deployed individuals, are in key administrative positions. Had this been the case, such financial recklessness could have been avoided
The Premier must provide a clear and actionable plan on how his government intends to unearth the root cause of this financial disaster and, more importantly, what consequences await those responsible. Heads must roll—this cannot be business as usual.
The Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) has the constitutional mandate to promote transparency and accountability in financial management. Yet, despite expanded powers granted in 2018 through the Public Audit Amendment Act, we continue to witness blatant financial mismanagement without consequence. This raises a critical question: Are these measures effective, or has the culture of impunity in the ANC government rendered them meaningless?
The people of the Northern Cape deserve better. They deserve a government that prioritizes service delivery over political patronage. ActionSA will not stand by while public funds are squandered. We demand immediate accountability, a full disclosure of the circumstances surrounding this failure, and an assurance that those responsible will be held to the highest standard of the law.
ActionSA Demands Accountability for Northern Cape’s R93 Million Treasury Forfeiture
ActionSA is appalled, yet unsurprised, that the Northern Cape Provincial Government has once again failed its residents by returning a staggering R93 million to National Treasury. In a province plagued by crumbling infrastructure, a dire housing backlog, and an ailing healthcare system—this financial mismanagement is nothing short of a disgrace.
It is beyond comprehension that a province with the worst infrastructure in South Africa can afford to return funds that could have been used to fix its pothole-ridden roads—some of which resemble lunar craters more than transport routes. Roads that should be facilitating economic growth and service delivery are instead left to deteriorate while funds meant for their repair are sent back due to the incompetence of those in power.
The ANC-led administration in the Northern Cape has, once again, demonstrated that it lacks the ability to govern efficiently. This R93 million could have gone toward reducing the province’s endless housing waiting lists, giving hope to families who have been living in squalor for decades. It could have been used to employ desperately needed doctors in rural areas, where communities are forced to endure long queues and inadequate medical care. Yet, due to sheer negligence, this money will now be allocated to provinces that understand the value of proper fiscal management.
The question now is: Who will be held accountable for this failure? Where is the consequence management that government officials so often speak about but never implement? ActionSA has long championed the need for professionalism in the public service, ensuring that qualified individuals, not political deployed individuals, are in key administrative positions. Had this been the case, such financial recklessness could have been avoided
The Premier must provide a clear and actionable plan on how his government intends to unearth the root cause of this financial disaster and, more importantly, what consequences await those responsible. Heads must roll—this cannot be business as usual.
The Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) has the constitutional mandate to promote transparency and accountability in financial management. Yet, despite expanded powers granted in 2018 through the Public Audit Amendment Act, we continue to witness blatant financial mismanagement without consequence. This raises a critical question: Are these measures effective, or has the culture of impunity in the ANC government rendered them meaningless?
The people of the Northern Cape deserve better. They deserve a government that prioritizes service delivery over political patronage. ActionSA will not stand by while public funds are squandered. We demand immediate accountability, a full disclosure of the circumstances surrounding this failure, and an assurance that those responsible will be held to the highest standard of the law.