Underspending is betrayal of South Africans; it's an act of treason, says Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa has strongly criticised the persistent failure of government departments to fully use their allocated budgets, calling it a betrayal of the public trust.

Addressing members of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) during a session in Cape Town, Ramaphosa did not mince words, describing this trend of underspending as nothing short of "treason" against the citizens of the country.

The president’s comments came in response to a series of oral questions from members of the NCOP, with service delivery once again dominating the agenda.

Ramaphosa expressed deep frustration that, despite South Africa’s many urgent needs, several provincial and municipal departments continue to return unspent funds to the National Treasury year after year.

“This is a matter of serious concern,” he said. “When money is allocated for housing, education, water supply, roads or clinics, and that money is not used, the people suffer. These are communities that are desperate for development, for access to basic services, and hope. When that money is not spent, it is the people who pay the price.”

Ramaphosa said poor planning, weak project management, and a lack of technical capacity within local and provincial departments were some of the major contributors to the underspending crisis.

He noted that in many instances, funds intended for essential infrastructure projects simply lapse because departments fail to finalise plans in time or do not have the skilled personnel to execute them.

“This cannot continue. It is not just inefficiency, it is neglect of duty,” he told the NCOP. “At the very least, it shows a disregard for the people.

''At worst, it is an act of betrayal. I have said before, and I will say it again — when you fail to deliver services that are funded and ready to be rolled out, you are committing a form of treason against the very people you are meant to serve.”

Ramaphosa also called for urgent reforms in how officials are held accountable. He said consequence management needed to be taken seriously, with clear action taken against those who repeatedly fail to meet spending targets or delay vital projects.

“We must shift the culture of government,” he said. “Officials cannot be allowed to continue in their positions when they continuously fail to deliver. We must build a public service that is competent, capable, and accountable to the people.”

While acknowledging that progress has been made in some areas, the president said the broader pattern of budget underspending remains a significant obstacle to development.

He encouraged provinces and municipalities to strengthen their planning, ensure early procurement processes, and focus on building technical capacity, especially in infrastructure delivery.

As the country grapples with high unemployment, poverty, and service delivery protests, Ramaphosa’s remarks serve as a sharp reminder that unspent public funds represent missed opportunities to uplift communities and improve lives.

“The money is there,” he said. “What is missing is the urgency to use it where it matters most.”