SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT'S GRAVY TRAIN FOR PROFESSIONAL VAMPIRES

It was reported that the audit firm KPMG earned a staggering R23 million of taxpayer money in compiling a forensic report on the SARS "rogue" unit. Surely the stupendous cost of the report should induce some sense of consternation for the service provided by KPMG. It would be interesting to learn if the government agency that engaged KPMG has questioned the reasonableness of the cost. Fees billed for professional services must be reasonable in keeping with the nature and scope of the work done. This test applies equally to auditors, accountants, lawyers, doctors and professions in general. The taxpayer has a right to know if he received "bang for his buck" in forking out R23 million! The government spends millions upon millions of Rand on outside professional services of which forensic services and litigation support constitute a significant portion. Hopefully there are controls in place to insure that government is getting reasonable value for the money it spends. Wishful thinking? Probably.