(a) The correct amount is R1 549 899. At 31 March 2017 an amount of R474 737 was already deducted/recovered from the affected volunteers, leaving the balance of R1 075 161. The balance will be deducted from the affected volunteers when remaining payments are processed where possible.
(b) The Auditor-General based their findings on the information presented to them for audit purposes. Some irregularities were identified during the audit. If the Department disagreed with these findings, the Department had to provide evidence to prove the Department’s case. However, there was not enough time for the Department to agree or disagree with the findings. The investigation of the process would have gone beyond the time of the audit and, in the absence of the evidence the Department disclosed the amount as per the findings of the Auditor-General.