EFF calls for urgent action over Eastern Cape payment delays

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has called on the Eastern Cape Government to act on late payments to service providers.

The party says some businesses have waited for months to receive money owed to them.

The EFF says some service providers waited up to 122 days for payment. ECNewsLive has not independently verified that figure.

Government departments are expected to pay valid invoices within 30 days. The Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury also tracks payment within 30 days as a key target.

However, recent reports show that late payments remain a concern in the province.

In August, reports showed that Eastern Cape departments had 4,096 unpaid invoices. The invoices were worth about R291.8 million. They had not been paid within 30 days in March 2026.

The Department of Health had 2,340 late invoices worth about R161.9 million. The Department of Transport had 1,518 late invoices worth about R53.8 million.

The issue has also affected scholar transport.

In April, scholar transport operators marched in Bhisho over unpaid invoices. They raised concerns about the impact of payment delays on their businesses and learners.

Meanwhile, some pupils later missed school and exams after operators stopped services over unpaid payments. Nearly 1,300 pupils in Buffalo City were affected during one dispute.

The Department of Transport previously said technical and administrative problems had delayed some payments. The department also said it was working to process outstanding payments.

The EFF says payment delays affect more than one group of businesses.

It says security companies, cleaners, caterers and building contractors can also face problems.

In addition, suppliers of food, stationery and medicine may struggle when payments are delayed.

The party says small businesses can face serious pressure when they wait too long for money. They still need to pay workers, suppliers and other costs.

The EFF wants the Premier and the MEC for Finance to provide a full list of unpaid invoices.

It wants the list to show which departments owe money and how long the payments have been outstanding.

The party also wants valid invoices to be processed without further delay.

In addition, the EFF wants Treasury to give priority to key services. It has specifically called for action on scholar transport before schools reopen.

The party also wants officials to account for repeated payment delays.

The EFF has called on service providers with unpaid invoices to report their cases to the party. It provided the email address effecppa3@gmail.com for such reports.

The party says it will also raise the matter through the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA), the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature and Provincial Treasury.

The Eastern Cape Government has previously acknowledged concerns around delayed payments. The Department of Transport has also said it was working to clear legitimate outstanding payments.

The EFF says government must meet the 30-day payment requirement. It says delays can put pressure on businesses and affect public services.

ECNewsLive will report any response from the Eastern Cape Government or Provincial Treasury.