Western Cape achieves 80% in Clean Audits across all entities and municipalities

Western Cape achieves 80% in Clean Audits across all entities and municipalities The Auditor-General, Mr Kimi Makwetu has conferred the prestigious outcome of clean audit on no less than 44 of 55 Western Cape Provincial departments, municipalities and public entities for the 2016/17 provincial and municipal audit outcomes. 

This represents a pass rate of 80%. “What the outcome of a clean audit suggests is that the correct processes were followed and transparency was observed” said Mr Makwetu during a ceremony attended by the Premier Helen Zille and Provincial Ministers of Finance and Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning. With the highest percentage of clean audits in South Africa, the Western Cape Government is leading the country in good financial governance. 

This achievement was acknowledged by the Auditor-General when he officially confirmed the Western Cape as the country’s top province for 2016/17. The combined Western Cape 2016/17 Audit Outcomes are as follow: 

• 100% Western Cape Public Entities received clean audits 
• 85% of Western Cape Provincial Government votes received clean audits. The Departments of Health and Human Settlements received unqualified audit outcomes, while the   Department of Agriculture’s audit is still outstanding.
•  71% of Western Cape Municipalities, including the municipal entity, received clean audits. Western Cape Finance Minister, Dr Ivan Meyer stated that the provincial government’s vision is one of good financial governance and improved service delivery.

 “We respect taxpayer’s money and the audit outcome is proof of that,” said Meyer. Western Cape Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Bredell says the outcomes for Local Government represent years of hard work at municipal level to improve governance. 

“The data shows the continued good management of taxpayer’s money at a time when budgets are getting tight and there is no room left for waste and mismanagement.” Bredell added that part of the good news story is that once-struggling municipalities like Oudtshoorn and Kannaland – who owed utilities like Eskom in excess of R40 million at one time – have now managed to settle their overdue accounts. “Currently we are not aware of one municipality that is sitting with overdue accounts owed to a National entity. That is further evidence of good management being implemented.”

ENDS.