Municipal audit awards set to celebrate excellence

The second annual municipal audit awards hosted by the South African Local Government Association (Salga) Gauteng will take place on July 5 at the Garden Venue Hotel in Johannesburg.

These awards will commend municipalities in Gauteng for exemplary financial management and adherence to the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).

While there are many obstacles that municipalities must still overcome, some made great strides in their governance and, as a result, audit outcomes and for that they must be recognised.

In addressing the challenges municipalities are facing, as guided by its mandate, Salga continues to provide support and facilitate areas of improvement across municipalities.

Through its various programmes, including the Municipal Audit Support Programme (MASP), Salga remains committed to inspiring municipalities to achieve excellence in audit outcomes, thus reinforcing transparency and accountability.

Jongizizwe Dlabathi, the chairperson of Salga Gauteng, underscores the awards’ strategic importance in recognising municipalities that have navigated governance challenges effectively.

“The ceremony not only celebrates achievements but also serves as a pivotal platform for sharing best practices, fostering collaboration, and motivating others to aspire to higher standards of municipal governance. The attendance of key sector stakeholders responsible for maintaining governance standards across South African institutions is key to the programme of the awards,” he explained.

This will include Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka, the Public Protector of South Africa, and the Auditor-General of South Africa.

“Their involvement highlights the awards’ deliberate focus on enhancing accountability and governance, reflecting a collective commitment to advancing good governance practices and ensuring the efficient delivery of services to communities,” Salga stated.