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The Gauteng Department of Education spent more than R18 million on forensic audits since 2009.

This according to Education MEC Barbara Creecy’s written response to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature.

Forensic audits audit are comprehensive financial investigations which usually probe cases of financial mismanagement and irregular, fruitless or wasteful expenditure. Forensic audits can also be conducted to prosecute individuals for fraud, embezzlement or other financial claims and may also be undertaken to determine negligence.

It is worrying that the Education Department had to spend millions on such serious investigations. Equally concerning is the fact that the R18 million excludes costs for litigation or further investigations emanating from a forensic audit.

The DA believes that these millions should be channelled towards learning and teaching. Proper procedure and monitoring on regular basis with necessary support from districts are needed. This includes financial management training to all School Governing Body (SGB) members.

Instead of spending her department’s limited budget on extensive investigations into financial irregularities the MEC must ensure that proper financial controls are put in place to address the cause, and not simply the symptoms.