Parliament, Thursday, 15 October 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment raised concern this week about R829.2 million in unspent funds at the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), despite the department achieving 49 of its 52 annual performance targets in the 2025/26 financial year.
The committee made these observations after considering the 2025/26 Annual Report and financial statements of the department and its entities and adopting its Budgetary Review and Recommendations Report (BRRR).
The department spent R8.3 billion, or 91%, of its R9.1 billion adjusted budget. While welcoming the strong performance, the committee noted that underspending resulted from delayed projects and slow procurement, among other factors. The biodiversity and conservation programme, which works to manage and conserve the country’s biological diversity, ecosystems and natural heritage, spent 99% of its allocation. The fisheries management programme, which works toward protecting marine and coastal resources, spent 98%, and climate change and air quality spent 97%.
The largest underspending was in the environmental programmes branch, where R390.6 million remained unused despite the programme exceeding all its targets. This programme focuses on green job creation and managing environmental risks through initiatives like Working on Fire. There was also material underspending in administration and forestry.
Key achievements the committee noted included 17 676 full-time equivalent jobs and 42 628 work opportunities; clearing nearly 312 000 hectares of invasive alien plants; rehabilitating 19 wetlands and suppressing all 1 049 attended wildfires. The department expanded the conservation estate by about 320 364 hectares.
Other reported achievements included 308 bursaries, environmental education programmes at 2 406 schools, the collection of about 149 039 tonnes of waste tyres, and the planting of 167 059 trees. In fisheries and the oceans economy, the department supported small-scale fishing cooperatives, continued operating 12 proclaimed fishing harbours, and increased patrols in South Africa’s Exclusive Economic Zone. It also supported 1 246 oceans-economy beneficiaries and raised US$394.46 million in international climate finance against a US$120 million target.
Despite these achievements, the committee identified continuing weaknesses in financial governance and compliance. It welcomed the department’s unqualified audit opinion and the absence of new material irregularities. Still, it noted that the Office of the Auditor-General of South Africa identified continuing compliance weaknesses and R4.36 billion in unresolved irregular expenditure, largely linked to legacy contracts, including Working on Fire.
Other concerns included weaknesses in supply-chain processes, poor execution of projects and vacancies in key leadership positions, as well as cybersecurity risks and weak revenue collection. Another concern the committee raised was the overdue tabling of the South African Forestry Company SOC Limited’s (SAFCOL) annual report.
On environmental service delivery and regulatory matters, the committee remains concerned about delays in environmental authorisations, the African Penguin Biodiversity Management Plan and consultations on draft Sectoral Emission Targets. It also highlighted infrastructure backlogs and municipal waste non-compliance as challenges requiring attention.
To address the financial management and governance weaknesses, the committee recommended that the department and relevant entities fully implement the audit action plan and provide quarterly progress reports to the committee. It also wants the department to institute stronger procurement and project management controls and act firmly against recurring irregular expenditure. The committee further called for SAFCOL’s overdue annual report to be tabled.
On environmental management and service delivery, the committee recommended that the department expedite digitalisation of environmental authorisation systems and improve air-quality monitoring while taking action to address coastal pollution and marine infrastructure. It also recommended that the department explore stronger waste and circular-economy partnerships and more climate-adaptation finance.
The committee further urged the Ministers of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and Finance to fast-track the Waste Management Bureau’s declaration and funding model so that environmental levies translate more visibly into restoration and waste-management outcomes. The Chairperson of the committee, Ms Nqabisa Gantsho, said the committee will continue monitoring the department’s financial management, governance and service delivery. “The committee expects public expenditure to translate into measurable environmental protection, resilient infrastructure, employment opportunities and tangible benefits for communities,” she said.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON FORESTRY, FISHERIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT, MS NQABISA GANTSHO.
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E-mail: sugovender@parliament.gov.za
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