The Auditor-General says the Department of Defence stands to incur irregular expenditure of R260 million for its importation of COVID-19 vaccines without approval from Cuba.
The AG says the only way they can avoid this, is if they return the drugs to Cuba and get a refund. This is, however, unlikely to happen as the vaccines are due to expire in March next year.

Mbali Tsotetsi from the AG’s office explains some of the recommendations they have made to the Secretary for Defence to prevent the financial loss from happening.

“The accounting officer should then do an investigation to identify officials that were responsible for importing the drugs without authority or approval and that appropriate steps must be taken against the officials that were involved and that this must be done within a reasonable time. And then lastly that if any losses were suffered by the department, the accounting officer must determine if the officials are also liable by law for purposes of recovery.”