To kick off the Annual Report season, the Auditor General (AG) briefed the Budget Committee today, where it was revealed that the Western Cape Government has once again demonstrated a solid and consistent pattern of good financial governance. 92% of all departments and public entities have earned the prestigious status of receiving unqualified audits.
In total, 76% of all departments and entities received a clean audit, including the Health Department for the third year running; while 16% received unqualified audits with findings, which means that while no errors were found in the financial statements, there is room for improvement in certain processes.
MPP Deidré Baartman says: “We welcome the fact that the Western Cape Government has upheld its track record of clean governance despite all the disruptions to normal operations caused by the pandemic. Strong leadership has set the tone throughout all our entities and departments to maintain sound controls. This ensures that tax payers’ money translates into service delivery for residents of the Western Cape.
After spending R71.9 billion, the AG has not found any intervention necessary for the Western Cape Government, and the Gambling and Racing Board has been able to achieve its first clean audit since the start of term. Similarly, the Department of Social Development has regained its 2018/19 outcome by again achieving a clean audit with no findings.
While we await the final audit outcomes for the Department of Community Safety and the Provincial Treasury, which are diligently seeking guidance per due process from National Treasury on technical matters, these outcomes lay bare our commitment to achieving value for money on behalf of residents.
The Annual Report season is a critical exercise of oversight by the provincial parliament of the financial and non-financial performance of the Western Cape departments and entities. The residents of the Western Cape deserve to be sure that its government is spending public money where it matters. We look forward to engaging with each department and entity individually as the respective committees sit to deliberate in the coming weeks, and carrying out our oversight role to ensure that the provincial government works in the best interests of all.”