The Department had spent R716.9 million (14.86 per cent) at the end of the first quarter. This was less than 25 per cent in all of its programmes. It reported the lowest spending of less that one per cent in International Transfers programme. This programme was allocated R784.7 million but only R3.7 million (0.47 per cent) was spent at the end of the first quarter. The low spending was attributed to delays in transfer payments to international agencies and organisations which are made at the end of the financial year. The other contributing factors for the department's spending trend included: