In a written reply to a parliamentary question by DA MP Patricia Kopane, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said the five provinces had underspent on a cumulative allocation of almost R2-billion.

In Eastern Cape, the department was allocated a budget of R361-million. Its under-expenditure was R191-million.

Free State failed to spend R134-million from its infrastructure budget of R378-million, while KwaZulu-Natal incurred an under-expenditure of R228-million.

Limpopo reported an under-expenditure of R89-million from its R323-million budget, while in Northern Cape a grant of R420-million was given but only R262-million went to infrastructure development.

Motsoaledi said the failure to spend was due to, among others, delays in the awarding of tenders, roll-over budgets from the previous financial year, poor performance by appointed contractors and termination of contracts and subsequent court challenges.

However, Kopane yesterday slammed the underspending, saying it was unacceptable because of the ageing infrastructure at public hospitals.

“If funding is made available it must be utilised efficiently and effectively,” she said.ll