MEC Mashatile encourages adherence to accountability and good governance principles following the Auditor-General’s report
The MEC of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Paul Mashatile, has congratulated the Local Government in Gauteng following the Auditor General’s report on the performance of Local Municipalities. The Auditor General, Kimi Makwetu, had reported an encouraging improvement in the audit results of South Africa’s municipalities over the past five years.
With all but one municipality having achieved unqualified audits in Gauteng, this development represents progress towards achieving our aim for clean audits by all municipalities in our province.
“Whilst I congratulate the municipalities on their improvements, I wish to emphasize the commitment by the department to intensify cooperative efforts between the different spheres of government and the function of CoGTA in the province in our continued efforts to achieve 100% clean audits for all municipalities”, MEC Mashatile said.
MEC Mashatile said that by adhering to the basic principles of accountability, enforcing strong internal controls and practicing good governance, municipalities should be well geared to live up to the expectations of the communities that they serve.
Gauteng CoGTA in partnership with the Provincial Treasury and municipalities have achieved measured improvement in municipality audit outcomes as it relates to both the achievement of clean and unqualified audit outcomes and a massive reduction of both audit report and management letters issues as raised by the Auditor General.
The Mogale City Local Municipality moved from a clean audit in the two previous year to an unqualified audit opinion in this financial year due to material findings on Compliance with key laws and regulations in Expenditure Management (unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure) and Procurement and Contract Management.
“Through our interventions we are able to see improvement on the performance of municipalities in the province. Hence, Gauteng municipalities have become strong and capable institutions that are managed and governed efficiently”, MEC Mashatile added.
MEC Mashatile said that these successes can be attributed to capacity building, training skills development, hands-on approach and technical support rendered to all municipalities by the provincial and national spheres of government.
“We commend municipalities on their commitment to ensure that local government shed the unfortunate image of reckless management, wasteful expenditure and the lack of systems. Indeed, our drive for 100% clean audit is gaining traction and starting to pay dividends”, MEC Mashatile concluded.
For more information contact:
Mogomotsi Mogodiri
Cell: 063 689 7613
