Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo obtains first clean audit

Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ), the greening entity that oversees the management of parks, street trees, conservation, cemeteries and the zoo in the City of Joburg, obtained its first clean audit since its establishment in 2001 for the 2016/17 financial year, City Buzz reports.

For the past 14 years, the entity has been receiving unqualified opinions.

READ MORE: Tshwane receives unqualified audit

“I am quite pleased and wish to congratulate JCPZ. The clean audit is testimony that JCPZ is committed to clean governance. It is against the priorities that have been set by the current administration that I find this achievement laudable.

It shows that there are people within the City entities who are committed to the current priorities of this government,” said MMC for community development, Nonhlanhla Sifumba.

Sifumba recalled the management of harsh weather-related issues, safety and security demands, unemployment, a compelling need for community-based jobs and ad hoc requirements for veterinary medical services at the Joburg Zoo as challenges that act as testimony to JCPZ securing a clean audit.

Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo was found to be in compliance with the Auditor-General’s three measurements on public entities, namely, the state of finances, performance against targets, and compliance with rules and regulations.

Highlights noted in the Auditor General’s report included:

• Reinstatement of the Joburg Zoo’s accreditation to the Pan-African Association of Zoos and Aquaria (PAAZAB)
• Completion of Phase 6 of the Olifantsvlei Cemetery to provide 800 000 new burial sites in the City
• Completion of the construction of a multi-level parkade at the Joburg Zoo to bolster Zoo visitor numbers and to address illegal parking around the Zoo
• Completion of the new wing at the zoo’s veterinarian hospital to strengthen animal welfare
• Development of the 6 new multi-functional parks to nurture healthy minds and bodies
• Creation of 2 265 community-based jobs to address poverty and unemployment
• Generation of R93,5m in revenue to augment the subsidy provided by the City
• Benefitting 63 106 beneficiaries through environmental education and awareness
• Achieving 96 per cent on its service delivery key performance indicators and
• Recording 448 769 visitors from gate-takings at the Joburg Zoo.

“I wish to thank the board of directors, executives of JCPZ, management and all the men and women in green, khaki, and blue for continuing to serve the residents with pride.  More thanks should be given to the residents, our park champions, our nature reserve champions, and all the businesses, security companies, the residential associations, and the many individuals who generously donated their time, services and goods to the animals and parks,” added Sifumba.