National Treasury has called on local government to enforce better credit control and debt management after it was revealed that government departments have billions in outstanding payments due to municipalities.
In response to a parliamentary question this week, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said the total outstanding debt has accumulated to more than R22 billion from national departments, provincial departments and other public institutions, such as government businesses, for municipal services.
National departments owe R8 billion, while provincial departments and other public institutions owe R9.7 billion and R4.2 billion, respectively.