The National Treasury has recorded an improvement in the payment of invoices by the government to service providers within 30 days in the 2021/22 financial year.

The number of invoices paid after 30 days by national and provincial departments in the 2021/2022 financial year amounted to 401,691 invoices with a rand value of R33.7bn.

The number of invoices older than 30 days and not paid by national and provincial departments at the end of March amounted to 67,862 with a rand value of R6.1bn.

“There was a 63% improvement in the number of invoices older than 30 days and not paid at the end of the 2021/2022 financial year, which amounted to 134 invoices to the rand value of R5m when compared to 358 invoices to the rand value of R426m reported at the end of the 2020/2021 financial year,” the Treasury said on Monday.

“There was, however, a noticeable regression in the number of invoices paid after 30 days by national department and a regression in the number of invoices older than 30 days.”

The Treasury said late payments of suppliers' invoices have a negative impact on social and economic challenges in the country.

“To ensure that supplier operations continue without strain and financial difficulties, government institutions are urged to pay their suppliers on time and not contribute to the dire effects of the [Covid-19] pandemic that has already put a strain on the financial sustainability of SMMEs.”

It recommended:

• the inclusion of timeous payments to the performance agreements of accounting officers, CFOs and other officials working in this area;
• disciplinary actions against officials who fail to comply with the requirements; and
• payment of suppliers within 30 days to become a standing agenda item for discussion at every executive committee meeting of departments.

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