Pretoria: Public Service Commission (PSC) Commissioner, Anele Gxoyiya, has praised government departments for adhering to legislation that mandates the prompt payment of supplier invoices.
According to South African Government News Agency, Gxoyiya highlighted that, by the end of the third quarter of the 2024/25 financial year, national departments had processed 38,153 invoices, amounting to approximately R1 billion, beyond the stipulated 30-day period. However, 4,993 invoices, valued at about R442 million, remained unpaid past the 30-day deadline.
Gxoyiya pointed out that the Department of Defence had the highest number of late payments in the third quarter, with 30,355 invoices totaling over R456 million being settled after the 30-day mark. This department also led in late payments during the first two quarters, with averages of 61% and 80%, respectively.
The commissioner identified common reasons for delayed or non-payment of invoices, such as misfiled, misplaced, or unrecorded invoices, along with internal control deficiencies. A total of 76,154 invoices, worth over R8 billion, were paid late, while 94,914 invoices older than 30 days, valued at over R12 billion, remained unpaid.
Gxoyiya expressed concern over the ongoing issue of late payments, citing it as a violation of the Public Finance Management Act. He emphasized the need for the PSC to engage with the Office of the Auditor-General to ensure accountability for accounting officers who fail to comply with the 30-day payment rule.
To address these issues, the National Treasury assists suppliers with non-payment queries through a central email address ([email protected]), tracking and providing feedback on late payments. The Treasury is encouraged to increase awareness among service providers about this dedicated communication channel to ensure more queries are addressed effectively.