Western Cape Department of Agriculture Crowned as Best Department in South Africa

The Western Cape Department of Agriculture was recently crowned as the best department in South Africa for its annual reporting by the South African Institute of Government Auditors (SAIGA). The department competed against other provincial and national departments, and walked away with the coveted overall winner award by scoring an impressive 96.55% for its annual report. The Western Cape Department of Agriculture also won the award for the best provincial department.

Gerrit van Rensburg, Western Cape Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that he is extremely proud of this achievement. "Being recognised as the best department in the country is an exceptional honour. This achievement reflects the hard work being done in the Western Cape Government and also at the Department of Agriculture. This award was earned through the department's culture of relentless drive to keep on improving."

Van Rensburg said that this award is also reflected in the manner in which the department goes about its day-to-day business. "An organisation that is excellent in its reporting and accounting activities must also be excellent in rolling out its services at grassroots level. This is true for the Western Cape Department of Agriculture."

The Western Cape Department of Agriculture was praised by the Executive President of the SAIGA awards, Professor Dieter Gloeck, for its commitment to effective and accountable reporting.

The Southern African Institute of Government Auditors (SAIGA) introduced important awards in the public sector ten years ago to recognise the pursuit of excellence in annual reports published by national and provincial departments.

The Annual Public Sector Reporting Awards produces 12 awards in total:

• One for the best report of a national department.
• One for the best provincial department (for each of the nine provinces).
• One for the most consistent highest score over the last three years.
• A twelfth award is made for the department obtaining the overall highest score.