South Africa: Committee Raises Concern Over Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) Irregular Expenditure, Deficits and Performance Verification Weaknesses

The Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities raised concerns about irregular expenditure, consecutive deficits, increased spending on consultants, and weaknesses in performance information verification at the Commission for Gender Equality. The committee received a briefing from the CGE on its 2025/26 Annual Report. The CGE attributed the Auditor-General's finding on irregular expenditure to a historical matter involving a panel of attorneys that was incorrectly appointed. Committee members asked the CGE to account for doubled consultant spending, clarify how much expenditure resulted from vacancies in the research unit, and explain why research posts had not been filled, while also calling for stronger consequence management.

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