BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
LOBAMBA – The Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs has committed to tightening fleet management systems as part of ongoing reforms following an Auditor General’s report that highlighted an under-expenditure of E107 050.83 on CTA vehicle charges for the year ended March 31, 2025.
The matter was raised before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), chaired by Deputy Speaker Madala Mhlanga, during a sitting held on June 24, 2026, where accountability on budget utilisation across government departments was under review.
According to the Auditor General’s findings, the under-expenditure represented close to 40% of the allocated budget for Tourism, Gaming and Wildlife activities. The report noted that such under-utilisation may affect the efficiency of planned service delivery programmes.
PAC members raised concern over the gap between budget allocation and actual expenditure, with MP Mzwandile Mamba questioning coordination between the Ministry and the Ministry of Finance, stressing that unspent funds represent missed opportunities for other national development priorities.
MP Sifiso Shabalala further highlighted that only about E267 000 was utilised against the approved allocation, questioning whether all planned activities were fully implemented amid growing public expectations on service delivery.
Responding to the committee, Acting Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Duduzile Nhlengetfwa-Masina, acknowledged the Auditor General’s report and assured PAC that corrective action is underway to improve efficiency in budget execution.
She explained that the under-expenditure was largely linked to fleet management challenges, including non-operational government vehicles, which affected the implementation of planned activities across departments.
The Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs has since prioritised strengthening fleet management systems, with vehicles being reassigned across departments to improve utilisation, coordination, and operational efficiency.
The Ministry further indicated that the reforms are aimed at ensuring improved service delivery in key sectors such as tourism development, gaming regulation, and wildlife management, aligning expenditure more closely with approved programmes.
PAC members emphasised the importance of strengthening financial controls and ensuring that approved budgets translate into measurable service delivery outcomes, as oversight on public spending continues.
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