Opposition MPs bemoan SA's over R150m shortfall to host G20 Summit

Opposition parties have expressed outrage in Parliament to learn of a more than R150 million budget shortfall for the G20 Leaders’ Summit that will take place in Johannesburg in November.

On Wednesday, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) made the revelation during a portfolio committee meeting, as parties questioned the value of having hosted the presidency of the body to ordinary South Africans.

The government has allocated a budget of R700 million to host the year-long event.

But the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party’s Wesley Douglas said heads must roll for the last-minute budget bungle.

Now in the final 80 days of hosting the prestigious world bloc, DIRCO chief director Dave Malcomson said getting Johannesburg infrastructure up to scratch around Sandton and Nasrec Expo Centre where the leaders’ summit will be held is still work a progress.

But he said budget constraints pose a major risk to the successful hosting of the final event.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)’s Nqobile Mhlongo, however, took a dim view of this admission when previously it was said South Africa would spend far less than Brazil did last year.

“Why wait to this late stage, to indicate that the budget that was initially allocated is not enough? “

The MK Party’s Wesley Douglas agreed.

“At the very least, this is dereliction of duty. How can an accounting officer not see there’s going to be a R153 million shortfall. If he didn’t see it, and now we have got to foot that bill as the taxpayer, then you have not done your job, you must be held accountable.”

Malcomson said talks were ongoing with treasury and the sponsorship committee to find the money - with the G20 social summit also to be held in November, not completely funded.