Western Cape Government welcomes Audit outcomes
23 May 2018
Statement by Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell.
The Western Cape government is pleased with the announcement by the Auditor-General today that 21 out of thirty municipalities in the province, received clean audits for their 2016/17 financial year. Two audits remain outstanding and four municipalities received unqualified audit reports.
The Western Cape has one metropolitan municipality, five district municipalities and 24 local municipalities that get audited under the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).
Anton Bredell, Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning says three years ago 18 out of thirty clean audits were achieved and in 2009 there were no clean audits in the province.
“Overall we are pleased with the outcomes despite severe ongoing financial constraints at Local Government level and a devastating drought that continues to cause huge problems across the Western Cape. The few areas of regression we note and we will address.”
Bredell says the outcomes are only made possible through an ongoing massive team effort by local, district and provincial officials. He says efficiently run municipalities remain key to delivering the services needed to make the province a better place for all who live in it.
“Good financial governance translates into better service delivery. We work tirelessly to instill a zero-tolerance approach toward those who transgress the financial laws governing this province. We have also rolled out various further training initiatives to ensure that staff are skilled.”
Graham Paulse, the Head of the Provincial department of Local Government, says the Western Cape is working hard toward achieving further clean audits in 2017/2018.
“We continue to develop and implement municipal support and good governance initiatives. In addition we have already stepped in in some municipalities where urgent intervention was required.”
Bredell says many challenges and hard work remains ahead but the outcomes of the latest round of audits remains a major cause for celebration.
ENDS.
James-Brent Styan
Spokesperson for the Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell
Mobile: 084 583 1670
Telephone: 021 483 2820
E-mail: James-Brent.Styan@westerncape.gov.za