BY MBONO MDLULI
LOBAMBA – A former government employee has fully repaid E15 014.92 that was mistakenly paid after his resignation, a development that has been praised as a successful recovery of public funds.
The matter was highlighted in the Auditor General’s Compliance Audit Report for the financial year ended 31 March 2024.
According to the Auditor General, the officer, identified by Employment Number 30051684, resigned from the civil service and served the required two-month notice period from 1 April to 31 May 2024.
Despite having completed his service obligations, the officer subsequently received a full salary payment on 21 June 2024.
The payment amounted to E15 014.92 and should not have been processed because the officer was no longer employed by Government at the time.
The Auditor General attributed the overpayment to delays in implementing the necessary salary stoppage procedures following the employee’s departure from service.
Administrative delays of this nature can create financial risks for institutions and may result in unnecessary losses if corrective action is not taken promptly.
Following the discovery of the irregular payment, the responsible authorities moved to recover the funds.
When appearing before the Public Accounts Committee, the Controlling Officer submitted evidence confirming that the officer had repaid the full amount.
The Committee welcomed the recovery and commended the responsible officials for ensuring that public money was returned.
Members noted that while administrative errors can occur, it is important that effective systems are in place to detect and correct mistakes quickly.
The successful recovery was viewed as evidence that audit recommendations are being acted upon and that accountability mechanisms are functioning as intended.
Parliamentarians nevertheless urged departments to strengthen internal controls to prevent similar incidents from occurring in future.
They emphasised the need for improved communication between human resources, payroll and finance sections to ensure that employee records are updated promptly whenever staff resign, retire or otherwise leave Government service.
Financial governance experts say the case demonstrates the value of regular audits in identifying weaknesses and ensuring corrective action is taken.
The fact that the money was recovered in full means there was no lasting financial loss to Government.
It also reinforces confidence in oversight processes designed to safeguard public resources.
The Auditor General’s findings serve as an important reminder that public institutions must remain vigilant in managing payroll systems and ensuring compliance with established procedures.
As Government continues implementing recommendations arising from audit reports, officials hope that improved controls will reduce the likelihood of future overpayments and contribute to stronger financial management across the public sector.
The recovery has therefore been welcomed as a positive example of accountability and responsible stewardship of taxpayer funds.
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