Government departments squandered R14 billion through material irregularities and in more than five years, only about 8% of that amount has been recovered.
Between the 2018/19 and 2022/23 financial years, there were 266 material irregularities on non-compliance and suspected fraud reported.
This resulted in a material financial loss of an estimated R14.34 billion and substantial harm to the general public, according to Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke.