LOBAMBA – Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Finance Vusi Dlamini has assured Parliament that government suppliers owed money for goods and services rendered will begin receiving payments this month as the country’s cash flow situation improves.
Dlamini gave the assurance when appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) yesterday, where Members of Parliament (MPs) questioned the ministry over unpaid suppliers, government cash flow challenges and delays in implementing the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS).
The matter arose after Auditor General Timothy Matsebula, in his audit report for the financial year ended March 31, 2025, flagged under-expenditure on several budget items within the ministry.
Matsebula warned that failure to utilise allocated funds often results in delayed or poor implementation of government programmes, limiting service delivery and ultimately hampering national development.
During the PAC hearing, MPs questioned why some allocated funds remained unspent while suppliers continued to complain about unpaid invoices.
Kubuta MP Masiphula Mamba sought clarity on the challenges facing suppliers.
“We hear that suppliers are not being paid. What is the problem? Are they failing to submit the required documentation? Can the PS give us confidence that this issue will be resolved?” asked Mamba.
Somntongo MP Sandile Nxumalo also pressed the ministry to clarify government’s financial position amid circulating rumours about the state of public finances.
“We need to know the true position. Is the money available or not? There are rumours that government has only E29 000 in its account. I am not saying I believe them, but clarity is needed,” said Nxumalo.
Responding to the concerns, the PS dismissed the rumours and explained that the issue was not necessarily a lack of budget allocation, but rather cash flow constraints.
“The claim that government only has E29 000 is simply not true. We regularly review our cash flow position, and some weeks are better than others,” he said.
The PS explained that releasing funds to ministries and departments did not automatically mean payments were immediately made.
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Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Finance Vusi Dlamini responds to queries during the PAC sitting. (R) Speaker Jabulani Mabuza during yesterday’s sitting.