ActionSA has raised alarm over severe governance failures and financial mismanagement in the Mpumalanga Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation (DCSR), following the release of the Auditor-General’s 2024/25 audit findings.

The report shows that the department has regressed to a qualified audit opinion, signalling a decline in financial accountability. According to ActionSA, this situation is worsened by long-standing vacancies in critical financial positions, including the Chief Financial Officer post, which has remained vacant for more than six years. Other key posts, such as the management accountant and deputy director of finance, have been left unfilled for over three years.

“These leadership gaps have left the department unable to implement basic financial controls,” said ActionSA Member of the Mpumalanga Legislature, Thoko Mashiane MPL.

The party stressed that such failures are particularly damaging in a department responsible for promoting culture, sport, and heritage — sectors that play an important role in building community identity, strengthening social cohesion, and boosting the local economy. Mismanagement, they argue, deprives artists, sports bodies, and heritage initiatives of the resources they need to flourish.

ActionSA has called on the MEC for Culture, Sport and Recreation to urgently fill the vacant posts, take disciplinary action against negligent officials, and present a clear turnaround plan with timelines and measurable outcomes.

“It is unacceptable that year after year, the Auditor-General repeats the same findings while the department relies on the audit process to expose failures instead of fixing them,” Mashiane added.

The party confirmed that it will use its legislative platforms to ensure accountability and consequences for what it terms a “neglect of financial management responsibilities.”