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This comes as the legislature's standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) refused to approve R234.67-million the department had classified as unauthorised expenditure.

Before making its decision the committee was called on to consider condoning a massive R4.7-billion unauthorised expenditure bill, accumulated between the 2005-06 and 2010-11 financial years.

The Gauteng health budget for the 2012-13 financial year is R24.5-billion.

On the implications of the committee's decision, department chairman Sipho Makama said: "It's either the department has lost that money (for good) or they will have to find ways to recoup it.

"It also means that the (national) Treasury won't fund the money and when next year's budget is finalised, that amount will automatically be taken out of the budget."

The largest amount rejected was R136.78-million, which was said to have been used for the roll-out of the Health Information System (HIS) and Health Smart Card.

Committee members were unanimous in their decision not to condone the expenditure, with some claiming not to know that the system had been implemented.

Said committee member Peter Willemburg: "As far as we know, smart health cards are nonexistent. It's just a waste of money."

The committee again refused to approve an additional sum of R19.825-million - spent on the same system and smart cards - for the 2009-10 financial year.

According to the report the department claimed twice that it had hoped the revenue generated from the system - once implemented - "will fund the budget needed for a further roll-out at health facilities".

The department explained that "the funding was aimed at improving patient administration, reducing waiting times and correcting patient classification".

Scopa also did not approve of the R41.724-million spent on project management consultants, leasing of offices and security services.

There also was R1.175-million for employees who had reached retirement as well as those who died while employed by the department.

There was also an amount of R16-million, which the department claimed was for "internal claims from institutions".

The committee said this expenditure was not approved because the department failed to give enough clarity.

A significant chunk of the department's unauthorised expenditure came as a result of numerous occupation-specific dispensation payments. - molatlhwao@sowetan.co.za

• This article was first published in the printed newspaper and eEdition on 27 August 2012. Click on this link to view the eEdition

Comments

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Sat May 18 15:41:53 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 28, 2012

seutullamakunutu

The people who voted for this government are suffering. This is the legacy left by the former minister of health mrs shawara now occupying top position in the african union. The exodus of well experienced doctor's and nurses was a result of her moronic statement saying she can get anyone from the streets, consequently her successor advicing hiv on beetroot and garlic. Remeber these two ministers were kept in their positions by the ANC to date.
Limpopo was put under national administration but we see zuma still failing limpopo, no text books. Why is gauteng department of health not under national administration mr " i know what i am doing "
Zuma is on his way to visit botswana, why whilst there is so much problems at home, you travel with your crew of incompetent ministers at the taxpayer's expense.
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Aug 28, 2012

Activeboi

What more can I say since that Zuma took over,i give up
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Aug 28, 2012

Activeboi

Management is busy taking a shower & making more babies, witout a good leader any company will fall down with lots of mistakes. Malema where are u when you are needed like you did with the miners issue???????????????
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Aug 28, 2012

Dzel

... and they want to enforce NHI on all of us?

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Aug 28, 2012

Ndele01

If our people were more educated, they would vote for another party. They say democracy doesn't work, yet the most successfull countries in the world use democracy to their advantage by ousting Parties that don't deliver.
Our people are to blame for all this - they prefer violence to their vote - same culture as in most of Africa. The facts are there for anyone to see.
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