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AG's column

Presidency supports our belief that clean administration in government is an achievable goal - 29 October 2012

I recently had the great honour of being invited to address the special national conference of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), the umbrella body that represents, promotes and protects the interests of all the country’s municipalities. My address on the day dealt with how our municipalities are faring in the drive towards wholesale clean administration and accountability in the public sector.

Media statement recently released on the 2010-11PFMA audit outcomes - 26 January 2012

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This month edition of the column is based on the media statement recently released on 2010-11 PFMA audit outcomes of national and provincial departments and public entities.

The 2010-11 audit outcomes of national and provincial department and public entities show a combination of imporovement, stagnation and regression as a reflection of the tone set by the national and provincial leadership. read more ...

Leaving a legacy through our centenary - 20 December 2011

This year has been an important one for us as the AGSA, having reached our centenary milestone. One of the themes of our celebration was a futuristic outlook, focusing on the youth. Any nation that invests in its youth makes a significant investment in its future.

Compliance with laws and regulations in government will fulfil the aspirations of citizens - 28 November 2011

In the relentless drive to improve the governance environment within the public sector, and reach the goal of clean audits by 2014, the public sector as a whole has to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to non-compliance with laws and regulations. Such a proactive stance would go a long way in bolstering public confidence in our growing democracy.

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Public confidence in government is paramount and can only be strengthened if leaders and officials within the public sector carry out their duties legally, effectively, efficiently and economically, and, most importantly, in accordance with the set rules and regulations.

Demystifying audit opinions - 25 October 2011

Recently, much interest has been generated around a report of the Department of Science and Technology for the year ended 2010-11. I would like to state right upfront that the audit opinion on this department for the reporting period 2010-11 is and remains financially unqualified with no other matters, thus giving the department a clean audit status. The reports we produce can only be fully understandable if the basic concepts, principles and parameters of the reporting and auditing process are understood by all South Africans.

Quality service delivery report: A valuable tool to track progress on service delivery - 28 September 2011

Service delivery to citizens not only means the provision of basic amenities, but also talks to the dignity of a nation. Availability of basic services improves the overall quality of life that can be afforded to citizens. It also talks to the millennium development goals which our country as a global citizen has committed to.

A keen focus on supply chain management by government will help to build confidence in our democracy - 31 August 2011

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In my previous article I singled out supply chain management (SCM), commonly referred to as the tender process in South Africa, as one of the focus areas for national and provincial role players. It is an area across all spheres of government (national, provincial and local) on which citizens are raising major concerns as billions of rands are spent through SCM to procure goods and services.

Clean administration at all municipalities by 2014 is still an achievable target - 28 July 2011

2014 Clean Audit Project

(... But the Auditor General Terence Nombembe cautions that mayors and other role players need to take charge now and drive the turnaround strategy towards positive results)

In May I had a great honour and satisfaction of presenting my office's inaugural Clean Audit Award to seven municipalities that had achieved the ultimate clean audit, as measured by our audit reports for the 2009-10 financial year.

Implementing key internal controls to eliminate undesirable audit outcomes - 24 June 2011

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Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) facilitates a process of in-year reviews of key controls by management and oversight structures

When you read this, my second in a series of candid opinion pieces on public sector governance and clean administration, many elected public representatives will still be settling into their new roles as local government councillors, mayors or senior administrators of their respective municipalities. And I would like to believe that clean administration will be the top item in all their in-trays as they acquaint themselves with their new offices and demanding roles, which are under close scrutiny by the communities that elected them.

Simplifying audit opinions and findings to enable government leadership to exercise oversight - 25 May 2011

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Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) on a drive to help national, provincial and local government improve their control systems and to empower leadership to hold public administrators accountable on financial management and service delivery

In 2007 my office embarked on an intensive drive to reach out, simplify and help make our audit opinions and findings understandable to as many South Africans as possible. Our initiatives have largely included making our audit reports simpler, clearer and more usable for all our stakeholders. To this end, we have travelled the length and breadth of our country, meeting and conferring with key decision-makers in government in an attempt to share and assist them in gaining a full understanding of our simplified reports which are now highlighting the root causes or source of obstacles that have hindered progress by government departments towards clean audit outcomes.

Terence Nombembe