CAPE TOWN, Western Cape — The ongoing disappearance of StatsSA tablets worth R102 million, which were deployed during the first fully digital Census of 2022, has drawn severe criticism from Parliament. During a recent briefing on the 2025/2026 audit outcomes for the department and its two entities, Statistics South Africa and Brand South Africa, the Auditor General’s office revealed that the investigation into the missing devices has stalled, leaving lawmakers frustrated over the lack of accountability.
The digital tablets were either stolen or simply never returned by fieldworkers. Of the total R102 million loss, R60 million remains under active investigation. However, representatives from the Auditor General’s office noted that despite the probe being ongoing since last year, the statistical entity has made no tangible progress and has nothing to show for the extended inquiry.
Members of Parliament’s Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Committee expressed deep concern over the delay, emphasizing the urgent need for accountability. Lawmakers demanded clarity on what exactly happened, why accommodations were not made to secure the devices, and why individuals who allegedly retained the equipment have not been held financially liable to recover the funds. Committee members noted they were initially led to believe the probe was at an advanced stage and would be resolved within a few months, but over a year has now passed without resolution.
To underscore the severity of the situation, the Auditor General has officially classified the tablet debacle as a “material irregularity”—a strict designation used to indicate severe harm to the public or an institution. This material irregularity was initially reported in June 2025, yet as of the recent briefing, no significant headway had been made. A clearer, more detailed report on the exact status of the investigation is now expected by October 24.
When the material irregularity was first communicated, the accounting officer responded with a list of planned actions and steps already taken. However, the Auditor General assessed these proposed measures as inappropriate and insufficient to properly resolve the issue. Officials noted that truly resolving a material irregularity requires recovering the financial loss, improving internal controls, and implementing strict consequence management.
Despite these glaring operational failures, the entity received an unqualified audit opinion from the Auditor General for the year under review. Nevertheless, the audit outcome was heavily caveated, with the Auditor General’s office highlighting that the clean opinion was overshadowed by weak consequence management, significant internal control deficits, and severe asset management failures.
