Gauteng Health Dept sitting with over R18bn in litigation fees, reveals Maile

JOHANNESBURG - An exorbitant bill of R18 billion in litigation fees at the Gauteng Department of Health is adding further strain to finances in the province.

This was revealed by Finance MEC Lebogang Maile during a media briefing on the province’s state of finances on Wednesday.

According to Maile, the health department is the only non-compliant one across all audited areas, including grant management, revenue collection, procurement, and asset management. 

He announced plans to meet with Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko to devise a strategy to address the department’s financial instability.

"We are sitting with more than R18 billion in litigation in the Department of Health alone. Our accruals (money owed to people in the previous financial years), 70% of that is in the Department of Health. So, we will be meeting with the MEC next week because health poses a huge threat in our budget."