Millions lost after an error in dollars instead of rands
Gauteng government experience a loss of R6m after an erroneous transaction to Ireland.
It is probably the most frustrating thing when you realise you have mistakenly paid more than the actual amount. We are all living through strenuous times where double-checking the amount's accuracy before clicking that 'Pay' button should almost be second nature. When the news of an erroneously processed amount in dollars instead of rands by Gauteng government surfaced, we were a little suspicious but also, we are human...
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First, we'll share what happened:
The Gauteng provincial treasury processed an amount of $20.9m instead of R20m while making a payment to Microsoft in Ireland. This is revealed by DA Gauteng shadow MEC for finance and e-government (e-gov), Adriana Randall. She received this information from finance and e-government MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko after questions regarding this Department.
As a result, the Gauteng government has lost more than R6m after an official erroneously processed a payment in dollars instead of rands.
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So MEC Nomantu Nkomo shared: "The department requested that Gauteng provincial treasury (GPT) recall the full amount of R318,307,941.79 from Microsoft. The amount was successfully recalled on February 5 2021, with an amount of R311,464,203.81, resulting in a shortfall of R6,843,737.90 because of the exchange rate."
Randall argues that the lost millions could have bought about 48,046 Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines, which were last priced at $10 (R142.44) per dose, according to the minister of health in April.
We do not want to negate the carelessness of the act but thoughts of malice at first glance truly are not always the way to go. As a traumatised country with so much history of corruption, we should still be able to have the balance of remembering that we are, before anything else, humans, therefore flawed.
So, that was a huge mistake that happened there - huge!
But we want you to remember to practice a little bit of grace towards people during this time. No one has it easy, therefore everyone deserves to be seen as human.
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