The Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities has expressed concern over the Department of Women's regression in audit outcome for the 2025/26 financial year. Chairperson Liezl van der Merwe stated that it was disappointing that the department, tasked with protecting the country's most vulnerable, was failing to hold those accountable for an accumulated R52m in irregular expenditure. This revelation has sparked concerns about the department's financial management and accountability.
The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities has been operating in poor financial health, with an accumulated irregular expenditure of R52m. The Auditor-General's office revealed that the department was operating on a bank overdraft due to unauthorized expenditure. With three acting directors general over the last year, it has been challenging to hold anyone accountable for the material irregularities that accompanied the department's unqualified audit with findings.
Entities linked to the portfolio, such as the National Youth Development Agency and the Commission for Gender Equality, have not fared much better in their audits. The National Youth Development Agency is in dispute with the Auditor General's office over its finances, while the Commission for Gender Equality has remained stagnant in its audit outcome for several years. This has raised concerns about the overall financial management and accountability within the portfolio.
ActionSA's Kgosi Letlape criticized Parliament for repeatedly complaining about the lack of consequence management for wasteful expenditure. Letlape emphasized that there needs to be a disciplinary hearing or the skilling of people if they don't have the competencies to do their jobs. He argued that Parliament was going around in circles every year, with no tangible actions taken to address the issue.
The Department of Women has been accused of awarding contracts irregularly. For instance, an almost R1m contract was awarded to a supplier who did not score the highest in the tender process, and another R11m contract was awarded without following a competitive bidding process. Additionally, the department has been approving prepayments to suppliers before a formal contract had been signed.
The Democratic Alliance's Samantha Graham-Maré stated that the audit outcome was proving the case for those who had questioned the value of the department. Graham-Maré argued that the department had not taken measures towards a clean audit, and the lessons learned from previous years had not been implemented. She emphasized that the department had not addressed prior expenditure findings, which was a major concern.
The department is expected to appear before the committee to explain its financial statements. The Portfolio Committee's criticism of the Department of Women highlights the need for improved financial management and accountability within the department. The committee's concerns and the Auditor-General's findings emphasize the importance of addressing these issues to ensure that the department can effectively carry out its mandate of protecting the country's most vulnerable.
Key points
- The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities has accumulated an irregular expenditure of R52m.
- The department has been operating on a bank overdraft due to unauthorized expenditure.
- The Portfolio Committee has expressed concern over the department's regression in audit outcome for the 2025/26 financial year.
