Celebrating 115 years of building public confidence

Nations are as strong as the institutions that make them. This is because institutions are designed to be resilient in the face of challenges and to continue executing their mandates for the benefit of citizens. One of these institutions, the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA), marks an important milestone: 115 years of existence and service to the people of South Africa.

On 12 May 1911, exactly 115 years ago the national audit office, then known as the Controller and Auditor-General, opened its doors. Today, in the democratic South Africa, it is established as an institution that supports our country’s democracy; and is the only institution with a constitutional mandate to audit and report on the use of public funds by government, Parliament, legislatures, municipalities and their entities.

This journey has not been without its challenges, the AGSA stands as one of the most trusted institutions that is often, fulfills its mandate, and called upon to do work by various stakeholders guided by our constitutional mandate and the Public Audit ACT.

Our institution, founded on the principle of guarding the guardians, is one of the key players in enabling state accountability and oversight across all government institutions. We do this by providing independent assurance to the people of South Africa on how their money is spent by their government. The Constitution bestows on the AGSA an important gift – independence − enabling us to carry out this work.

The AGSA’s milestone is coincidentally in the same year that the nation celebrates 30 years of the adoption of the very same Constitution that gave it this important mandate of being the supreme audit institution (SAI) of the country.

The Constitution gave the AGSA the power to audit and report without fear or favour and without prejudice. It also bestowed on it independence that allows the organisation to execute its mandate without any hindrance, and was recognised by the World Bank as one of only two SAIs with full independence globally.

The AGSA is required by law to audit all government institutions. This encourages good governance and is in line with the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions, which stipulates that these organisations make a difference in the lives of citizens by:

• strengthening the accountability, transparency and integrity of government and public sector entities
• demonstrating ongoing relevance to citizens, Parliament and other stakeholders
• being a model organisation through leading by example.

Therefore, reaching this milestone is deeply meaningful because it shows that the AGSA, in different forms, has been a constant source of stability and accountability through moments of change and challenge in South Africa and continues to make a difference in the lives of citizens. The auditors-general that have graced the helm of the national audit office laid a solid foundation that resulted in the investments the country enjoys today.

As the AGSA, this is also a moment to pause and remember where the organisation comes from and the important work we have been doing on behalf of the people of South Africa. For our work to be taken seriously, the organisation must conduct its work with integrity and ethical standards, and ensure that our findings are accurate and, at all material times, we lead by example. That is why we recognises that our reputation is sacrosanct and that our work must build public confidence and give concrete expression to our resolve to Audit(ing) to build public confidence.

The journey from a small audit office in the Union of South Africa to a constitutionally independent chapter 9 institution has seen the AGSA adapting its role, tools and reach to remain relevant in a changing governance landscape. Today, the AGSA is recognised nationally and internationally as a trusted guardian of public accountability, which is committed to illuminating insights for a better South Africa.  

We stand as testament that, indeed, strong institutions are the cornerstone of thriving democracies and now, more than at any other time in its history, South Africa needs institutions that are steady, independent and trusted. The AGSA is one such institution − a source of assurance and accountability for our nation.

In this spirit, I invite the people of South Africa to join us in celebrating this significant milestone.

Tsakani Maluleke

Auditor-General