THE Eastern Cape government has spent a staggering R8.5-billion on consultants over the past three years. Finance MEC Phumulo Masualle's shock admission, which comes as more than 70% of the province's budget has already been dedicated to salaries, follows his statement in March that the Eastern Cape was battling a bloated administration.
He said the provincial government had a "top-heavy organisational structure with too little capacity at points of delivery".
Responding to questions raised by DA provincial legislature leader Bobby Stevenson two weeks ago, Masualle said the expenditure on consultants, contractors and outsourced services was R2.891-billion in 2010, R3.076-billion last year and R2.695-billion this year.
The amount budgeted for consultants for the 2012-13 financial year was R1.229-billion.
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