Auditor-General holds mayors equally accountable for poor municipal audit outcomes

By Thebe Mabanga

South African municipal finances have shown minimal improvement as the current local government administration nears the end of its term, according to Auditor General of South Africa, Tsakani Maluleke.

Maluleke attributed poor audit outcomes equally to mayors and speakers during her briefing to the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) in Parliament on the 2023/24 audit results.

The AG found that 41 out of 257 municipalities, only 16%, had achieved unqualified audits with no findings, or clean audits.

Ninety-nine municipalities, or 39%, obtained an unqualified audit with findings.  

About 90 municipalities, or 35%, achieved qualified audit with findings.

The biggest improvement was in the number of disclaimers finding a level below adverse findings, which fell from 28 in 2021, when the current municipal leadership took office, to 11, or just 4%, in the latest findings. 

“While 59 municipalities have improved their audit outcomes