City Manager Dr Imogen Mashazi says hard work, determination and commitment are the main reasons the City of Ekurhuleni became the first Gauteng metro to receive three consecutive clean audits from the Office of the Auditor General.
A clean audit is an affirmation of a well-functioning administration. It means that the financial statements do not contain material errors.
“It is an honour to receive this outcome. It is unique because many other municipalities have struggled to obtain clean audits,” said Mashazi.
“Three clean audits in a row demonstrate that we are not regressing in our efforts to run a clean government.
“I thank all the key stakeholders who made this possible and encourage them not to drop the ball as the success of local government requires great financial prudence.”
Operation Clean Audit is the special-purpose vehicle introduced to monitor the implementation of the Auditor General’s previous recommendations, and adequate systems for dealing with audit queries are in place.
Underpinning its implementation is an accountability framework that ensures governance structures are accountable to each other and to the community they serve and that the fraud and corruption reporting mechanisms and processes are functional.
“We have, over the years, created a stable administration with qualified personnel because one of the main criticisms of local government has historically been the issue of employing unqualified staff to handle public finances and run the administration,” said Mashazi.
“This translates to the quality of our financial reports being credible and in compliance with all laws and regulations applicable.
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“The clean audits are proof that this City is committed to good governance, and they are a vital step in restoring the confidence of our citizens.
This achievement has not come easily but results from many sleepless nights and long hours.
“We remain steadfast in our zero-tolerance approach to non-adherence to deviation on established supply chain processes. This has proved vital in eradicating irregular, wasteful, fruitless and unauthorised expenditures in the metro.”
She commits that the metro will continue to work harder to ensure more clean audits in the future.
