Themba Gadebe, spokesman for the metro, says that an unqualified audit opinion means that the municipality prepared and submitted annual financial statements which:
- fairly presented the state of affairs of the municipality
- performance against its budget
- management of revenue, expenditure, assets and liabilities
- business activities
- financial results
- financial position as at the end of the financial year.
This also included the required disclosures.
“The accounting officer must submit the annual financial statements of the municipality for auditing, within two months after the end of the financial year to which those statements relate,” he says.
The financial year end of the metro is June 30, therefore, the financial statements will be submitted to the Auditor General by the end of this month, and the Auditor General will provide management with audited result by November 30.
“The intensity of management of value for money for goods and services rendered by the metro continues to improve,” says Gadebe.
The external audit focuses on the annual financial statements to ensure that they fairly present the results of the municipality over the period under review, compliance with laws and regulations as well as council policies.
“The audit of performance information is reported adequately and what is reported can be verified.”
He adds the metro continues to improve its internal control systems and performance management to ensure that the funds are utilised for their intended purposes.
“We continue to strive to ensure that our reports fairly represent the financial position of council.”
The metro has been receiving unqualified audit opinions and in the last year received a clean audit.
“The process has been improving year on year and audit of performance information has also been improving over the years,” Gadebe adds.
