Call to law enforcement agencies to act on issues relate to municipal maladministration

The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) has called on upon law enforcement agencies to act expeditiously on the outcomes of their investigations as they relate to maladministration.

This after the Association recently released the Auditor General’s 2018/19 MFMA Audit Outcomes General Report.

SALGA has applauded two municipalities who have achieved clean audits for the period 2018/2019 within Mpumalanga – namely Gert Sibande District and Nkangala District Municipality.

“Based on the audit results obtained, SALGA has noticed with great concern the regression of six (6) municipalities; City of Mbombela from Unqualified with findings to qualified, Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme from Unqualified with findings to Disclaimer, Lekwa, Dipaleseng and Victor Khanye from Qualified to Disclaimer as well as Emakhazeni from Qualified to Adverse,” said SALGA spokesperson Nokwanda Ndashe.

Meanwhile, the Association has also noticed improvements on Nkangala District Municipality from unqualified audit opinion with findings to unqualified audit opinion with no findings and Bushbuckridge from qualified audit opinion to unqualified audit opinion with findings.

In the statement Ndashe explained that two municipalities audit outcomes could not be released namely Dr JS Moroka and Govan Mbeki Local Municipalities due to the late submission of Annual Financial Statements for auditing to the Auditor General.

The National Executive Committee of SALGA at its special meeting on the 18 June, 2020 resolved to, communicate directly with Mayors and Accounting Officers of municipalities who have transgressed in terms of relevant legislation to demand accountability, call on municipalities to develop audit response plans that are to be monitored on a quarterly basis among others.

“SALGA supports the amended Public Audit Act which will be critical in giving powers to the AG to enforce accountability and consequence management,” concluded Ndashe.