Addressing the media today, the Director-General (DG) of Home Affairs, Mr Mkuseli Apleni announced that the department has made significant strides towards achieving its target of obtaining an unqualified audit by 2011.
In her maiden speech at the budget vote as Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma told Parliament last year, “We are committed to achieving an unqualified audit within two years, having addressed negative findings in the previous audits.”
Following the tabling of the Department’s Annual Report in Parliament yesterday (Wednesday), DG Apleni told the media that in the 2009/10 financial year, that the department received one qualification related to capital asset management. This in comparison to the four qualifications received in 2008/09 financial year.
In recent years, the department has obtained two disclaimers from the Auditor-General. This is the most adverse finding any department can achieve with regard to its annual performance.
To address the finding, for 2009/10 financial year, of the Auditor General, the department has already started implementing a programme to intensify room bar coding, office numbering, identification of lease assets, the verification of assets and accurate verification. A further initiative, a joint support team in partnership with National Treasury, has been established to implement an extensive support service plan.
To ensure that it achieves its goal of an unqualified audit, the department is implementing a basket of other measures including improving its procurement systems, intensifying the fight against crime and corruption and the appointment of State Accountants and Financial Managers in its provincial operations.
Commenting on the Auditor-General’s report, the Director-General Apleni said, “When Minister Dlamini Zuma briefed Parliament last year, she did state that we were rapidly moving towards ensuring that the department obtains an unqualified opinion in the future.
In this regard, the measures we have implemented in the past financial year have allowed us to move at speed towards achieving this goal. The transformation plan we have implemented since 2007 is now beginning to assist the department in attaining fundamental transformation with regards to its efficiency and qualitative service to all citizens.”
