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The IFP is expressing its growing concern about the levels of overspending
across almost the entire KwaZulu-Natal provincial government as the
provincial Legislature votes for additional funds to balance the province's
books.

"The current levels of overspending are unprecedented in the history of this
province. More importantly, they come at a time of increasing public anxiety
about the fiscal stability of the entire South Africa in the midst of a
global economic meltdown," said Leader of the Official Opposition in the
KwaZulu-Natal Legislature Dr Bonginkosi Buthelezi.

While some proportion of the over-expenditure has been unavoidable given a
number of long-standing issues as well as new pressures on the provincial
fiscus as a result of demands associated with the Occupation Specific
Dispensation (OSD) for various government employees, other portions of
over-expenditure are the consequence of ongoing and often worsening
profligacy.

One glaring example of this, the IFP contends, is the adjustment estimate to
the tune of R25-million requested by the provincial Legislature. "Instead of
leading by example, the very institution that is constitutionally mandated
to exercise oversight over the executive has chosen to defy the overwhelming
need for frugality at a time of economic crisis for purposes that are
questionable at best and unaffordable at worst," said Dr Buthelezi.

The IFP has expressed hope that the volume of this year's adjustment
estimates and the public reaction to it will prove a sufficient deterrent
for offenders among government departments to refrain from injudicious and
irresponsible spending of the public funds in the future.

"At a time when the economy is stagnating and tax revenues are plummeting,
the least a government can do is to behave responsibly. This our government
has failed to do and we on the opposition benches are obliged to say so,"
said Dr Buthelezi.