ActionSA Slams Financial Mismanagement in the Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation
Press Statement by Thoko Mashiane MPL
ActionSA Member of Mpumalanga Legislature
ActionSA is deeply concerned by the Auditor-General’s 2024/25 PFMA audit findings, which expose severe governance failures and financial mismanagement within the Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation (DCSR).
The Auditor-General’s report reveals that the department has regressed to a qualified audit opinion, reflecting a sharp decline in financial accountability. This regression stems from persistent vacancies in key financial positions, including the Chief Financial Officer post, which has remained vacant for over 6.5 years, and the management accountant and deputy director of finance positions, which have been vacant for more than three years. These leadership gaps have left the department without the capacity to implement basic financial controls.
What makes this situation even more concerning is that these failures are occurring within a department tasked with promoting culture, heritage, and sport, sectors that play a vital role in building community identity, social cohesion, and local economic development. Mismanagement in this department deprives artists, sports communities, and heritage initiatives of the resources they need to thrive.
ActionSA calls on the MEC for Culture, Sport and Recreation to:
Urgently fill critical financial management vacancies to restore stability and accountability.
Institute disciplinary processes against officials whose negligence enabled these losses.
Table a comprehensive turnaround plan to the Legislature with clear timelines and measurable outcomes.
It is unacceptable that year after year, the Auditor-General repeats the same findings while the department continues to rely on the audit process to expose failures instead of taking proactive steps to fix them.
ActionSA will use its legislative platforms to ensure that these findings are not swept under the rug, and that real consequences follow for this neglect of financial management responsibilities.
ActionSA Slams Financial Mismanagement in the Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation
ActionSA is deeply concerned by the Auditor-General’s 2024/25 PFMA audit findings, which expose severe governance failures and financial mismanagement within the Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation (DCSR).
The Auditor-General’s report reveals that the department has regressed to a qualified audit opinion, reflecting a sharp decline in financial accountability. This regression stems from persistent vacancies in key financial positions, including the Chief Financial Officer post, which has remained vacant for over 6.5 years, and the management accountant and deputy director of finance positions, which have been vacant for more than three years. These leadership gaps have left the department without the capacity to implement basic financial controls.
What makes this situation even more concerning is that these failures are occurring within a department tasked with promoting culture, heritage, and sport, sectors that play a vital role in building community identity, social cohesion, and local economic development. Mismanagement in this department deprives artists, sports communities, and heritage initiatives of the resources they need to thrive.
ActionSA calls on the MEC for Culture, Sport and Recreation to:
It is unacceptable that year after year, the Auditor-General repeats the same findings while the department continues to rely on the audit process to expose failures instead of taking proactive steps to fix them.
ActionSA will use its legislative platforms to ensure that these findings are not swept under the rug, and that real consequences follow for this neglect of financial management responsibilities.