One province wasted R6.78 billion in irregular expenditure in three years

The Mpumalanga provincial government accrued R6.78 billion in unauthorised, irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditure over its last three financial years.

This was revealed in a recent Provincial Audit Outcome for 2025/26, which was submitted by the Auditor-General (AG) to the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature (MPL) last week.

Nearly half of this expenditure was incurred within the last year alone, with the province accumulating R3.26 billion of irregular expenditure during 2025/26.

This is in addition to the R2.01 billion accrued in the 2023/24 financial year and the R1.51 billion incurred in the 2024/25 financial year.

According to the AG, the provincial government has not implemented sufficient consequence management for departments and entities that have repeatedly engaged in material non-compliance with legislation.

The AG also raised concerns that the Mpumalanga government paid nearly R224 million to officials who have been suspended for multiple years.

The Mpumalanga Department of Health alone paid R218.86 million to suspended officials, making it by far the largest offender in this regard.

This was followed by the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency, which paid R3 million to its former Chief Executive Officer, Mduduzi Vilakazi, while he was still on suspension.

Vilakazi was allegedly involved in a R380 million ghost-tender scandal related to the Barberton Makhonjwa Mountain World Heritage Site.

He resigned from the position with immediate effect on 3 November 2025, shortly after the disciplinary proceedings against him began.

Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu halted a bid from Vilakazi to be appointed as his special advisor in June this year over concerns about his suitability for the role.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is currently investigating the ghost tender but has been criticised for delays in taking action.

Former MEC for Economic Development and Tourism, Makhosazane Masilela, reportedly called for the opening of a criminal case and the recovery of R14 million as far back as 2024.

MPL Member Trudie Grové-Morgan called on the provincial government to implement recommendations from the AG in order to improve its financial management.

This includes the introduction of automated procurement systems that automatically track tenders, flag irregular transactions, and record all procurement decisions transparently.

“We have seen that persistent failures in consequence management and compliance within the Mpumalanga Provincial Government continue to undermine progress in terms of service delivery,” Grové-Morgan said.

“Improvement in financial management leads to better service delivery. We want an accountable and clean government.”