Lesetja Malope
Led by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, the Joint Minsterial Team put in charge of implementing National Government’s section 100 intervention in five of the province’s departments, has hit back at allegations that since taking over the departments service providers of essential services have not been paid and further exposed the depth of the apparent corruption the team has uncovered over the last month. 
Gordhan and his team, including Ministers Sbu Ndebele of Transport, Thulas Nxesi of Public Works, Aaron Motsoaledi of Health, Angie Motshekga of Basic Education, Roy Padayachee of Public Service and Administration and Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Andries Nel, briefed the media Provincial Treasury’s Head Office in the city last Thursday. Reporting on the progress made in the five departments they spared no punches in denying accusations of political motive for National Government’s decision to place the province under administration.
Gordhan shied away from pronouncing that there is corruption but said the public would be the judge from the facts. “The facts speak for themselves, let the public be the judge,” he said.  He however added that the team has roped in the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development who may have to establishment World Cup-style courts.
Motsoaledi said only the financial and procurement facets of the health department were taken over and payments to verified service providers were already made. “Some claims could not be verified and therefore could not be paid as there is no evidence of the services being offered,” Motsoaledi said.
Among the long list of problems uncovered in the department is poor asset management, R400 million in irregular expenditure, made up mostly of medical equipment, contravening supply chain management regulations and not submitted to the Auditor General last year, and a further R427 million in assets without supporting documents.
Gordhan said the department is expected to overspend its budget by R461 million. Mot-soaledi said recent instances where certain service providers we reported to have stopped supply services because they were told so under threat of not being paid, was tantamount to sabotage. He also said there was suspicion that service providers are being mobilised to sabotage the work of the team. Several hospitals have reportedly been left without food and medical supplies and in some instances the nurses and communities are said to have contributed money to buy food for patients.
The Department of Education was found to have not managed its supply chain management systems properly, accumulated unauthorised expenditure of R2,2 billion, have 200 untraceable educators on its payroll and 2 400 more who are excess, while also managing to garner R190 million in unpaid invoices.
Motshekga said the department also failed to order learner training support material on time last year, some schools did not receive their norms and standard funds for the running of the schools and the department is also expected to overspend its budget by R293 million. Nxesi in his report on the Department of Public Works, said a number of risks in a number of areas including supply chain management, were found and exorbitant consultancy fees way above the national average were paid.
Other matter that arose from the department include the lack of asset management  system in place, tenders being awarded without any bidding process, modifications of existing tender in order to increase tender value. 
Ndebele said among the issues the intervention team has unearthed from the Roads and Transport Department is the lack of contract management in place, weak internal control and lack of oversight for Roads Agency Limpopo (Ral).