Transport and Public Works Receives Top Honours at SAIGA Annual Reporting Awards

SAIGA has adjudicated that the 2013 Annual Report of the Department of Transport and Public Works (Western Cape Government) is the winner in the following categories:

1. Best Annual report of a department in the Western Cape Province.
2. Winner of the award for the most consistent highest score over the last years.
3. Overall winner of the 2014 Annual Public Sector Reporting Award.

Programme Director

Former Minister Robin Carlisle

Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts

Executive President of SAIGA and other members

Representatives of the office of the Auditor General of South Africa

Head of the Department of Transport and Public Works, Ms Jacqui Gooch and former Head of Department, Mr Johan Fourie

Colleagues

Ladies and Gentlemen

It is with considerable pride that I stand here today, amongst all of you, accepting this prestigious Annual Public Sector Reporting Award 2014 on behalf of the Western Cape Government’s Department of Transport and Public Works. I extend my gratitude to the South African Institute of Government Auditors (SAIGA) for this honour.

The Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works has grown from strength to strength over the past few years, under the capable leadership of my predecessor, Minister Robin Carlisle, and the previous Head of Department, Mr Johan Fourie. This now established tradition of excellence in service to the people of the Western Cape is being carried forward by a dedicated team of public servants, lead with great determination and a clear vision by our current Head of Department, Ms Jacqui Gooch. We can all rest assured that the department which has been recognised as the best run in the country, as part of the most responsive and committed regional government on the continent, will continue to aim for greater highs. The work of this department, within this government, exemplifies our vision of creating an open opportunity society for all South Africans, so that they can live the lives they truly value.

This award is of particular significance as it acknowledges excellence in the field of financial reporting, which is crucial to any organisation’s ability to deliver on its mandate. It is essential that we encourage competition within government in this regard, thereby increasing financial transparency and improving overall government performance. The mandate given to us by the people we serve demands nothing less.

Appropriate financial reporting allows for the effective transfer of financial data to people and entities outside of the organisation in a way that is valid and timely. Government accounting and financial reporting aims to protect and to manage public money appropriately while providing the required accountability. In essence, to ensure that what the government says it will do with public funds, it actually does, and does correctly and for the benefit of the public. Public accountability is demonstrated, in part, by each government department’s ability to maintain high accounting standards, as well as being able to demonstrate the institutional capacity to set and implement public policy. This accolade is therefore testament to the fact that the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works is committed to leading from the front in this regard. Balancing the need for transparency and accurate reporting with the need for efficient, caring service delivery remains a challenge.

As we move forward in achieving our departmental mission of developing and maintaining appropriate infrastructure, which will grow jobs and the economy, and provide development opportunities to our people, we remain committed to sustaining not only high reporting standards, but also the highest levels of delivery to the people of the Western Cape, to whom we are accountable.

H. James Harrington said, “Measurement is the first step that leads to control and eventually to improvement. If you can’t measure something, you can’t understand it. If you can’t understand it, you can’t control it. If you can’t control it, you can’t improve it.” What can be measured can indeed always be improved upon. We remain steadfast in our resolve to build further on our already solid foundations, and to reach even greater heights of excellence.

While I accept the honour of this award, the credit goes to the Department of Transport and Public Works. I am privileged to get to work with the best, and look forward to what we will achieve Better Together.

Thank you.

Read SAIGA's media release on the Public Sector Reporting Awards.