The financial management of municipalities in Gauteng is steadily improving, MEC for local government Kgaogelo Lekgoro said on Monday.
Lekgoro said 11 out of 14 municipalities in Gauteng had received
unqualified audit opinions, marking an improvement from the previous
financial year when they were only eight.
An unqualified audit is a good audit and means the municipality has
accounted for everything and has all the supporting documents for
monies spent.
"When the finances of municipalities are spent and managed properly it
restores confidence in the leadership of government and it strengthens
the provision of services to communities," said Lekgoro.
The Johannesburg metro has for the third time received an unqualified
audit opinion. This also includes Ekurhuleni Westrand, Sedibeng,
Metsweding, Lesedi and the Midvaal.
Lekgoro said the improvement was due to measures implemented by the
provincial government in 2007, as part of the broader programme of
implementing the Municipal Finance Management Act.
However, he was disappointed they could not improve the audit outcomes
of Tshwane, Kungwini and Nokeng Tsa Taemane municipalities.
"We are hopeful that through the continuation of our partnership with
the SAICA [SA Institute of Chartered Accountants] it may be possible to
reach the target of a clean audit at all municipalities in Gauteng by
2010," he said.
"We are working to ensure that they sustain this good performance on the audit outcomes."
Sapa
