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MEC slams state underspending

Canaan Mdletshe

Canaan Mdletshe

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for finance, Zweli Mkhize, has said underspending by some departments is a sign of poor planning and lack of managerial skills.

He also lashed out at departments that had overspent in the 2006-07 financial year.

Mkhize, pictured , said the land-care grant was under-utilised as only 59percent of the actual amount was used, while the agricultural support programme only spent 69percent.

He said this could be attributed to problems of accountability in the department, which resulted in two senior officials resigning early this year.

The two, head of department Jabulani Mjwara and financial officer Petrus Mahlangu, resigned after failing to account for overexpenditure amounting to more than R100million in last year's financial year.

He also said only 39percent of the forensic pathology grant was used. This grant was set up to ensure the smooth transfer of the mortuary functions from the SAPS to the provincial health departments.

Mkhize said under the human settlement grant, the department of housing overspent by R53million.

Mkhize also said the provincial government had already signed a contract with the preferred bidder for the construction of the R6,8billion Dube Trade Port at La Mercy.

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