Auditor-general laments lack of accountability as he releases declining local government audit results

PRETORIA – The auditor-general (AG), Kimi Makwetu, today released yet another set of municipal audit results that show an overall decline in audit results for the 2017-18 financial year.

Releasing his latest report on the performance of South Africa’s municipalities, Makwetu said this undesirable state of deteriorating audit outcomes shows that various local government role players have been slow in implementing, and in many instances even disregarded, the audit office’s recommendations. As a result, the accountability for financial and performance management continues to worsen in most municipalities.

This general report deals with the audit outcomes of local government for the financial year ended 30 June 2018. It precedes the amendments to the Public Audit Act, which became effective on 1 April 2019. Accordingly, the requirements of these amendments will be applicable for the first time to audit reports issued for the financial years that ended on or after 31 March 2019.

The auditor-general (AG), Kimi Makwetu, today reported limited improvements in the audit results of South Africa's municipalities for the past financial year.