EXCO Media Statement

25 September 2024

EXCO ADOPTS DRASTIC MEASURES TO IMPROVE AUDIT OUTCOMES

The Office of the Auditor-General in Mpumalanga has presented the audit outcomes of Provincial Departments and Public Entities during a sitting of the Executive Council (EXCO) in Mbombela, on Wednesday. The Auditor-General is one of the Chapter 9 institutions in the country and performs an audit function of all state institutions to determine their performance on the management of public funds and the evidence of their performance.

The 2023/24 A-G’s report depicts a mixture of audit outcomes by the various state institutions in Mpumalanga. It provides evidence of the Provincial Treasury (PT), Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Mpumalanga Economic Regulator (MER) and the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA), as auditees with clean audit achievements.

EXCO congratulated the four institutions for the clean audit achievements. However, the inhibiting factors which led to the non achievement of a similar feat by the other institutions, has been raised as a concern.

The A-G’s report attributes the non achievement to various factors, among them, inadequate capacity due to a high vacancy rate in most departments, lack of credible information to substantiate the performance and the delays in the implementation of projects.

EXCO adopted drastic measures as remedial action. These measures were announced by the Premier, Mr. Mandla Ndlovu during the sitting of EXCO. They include, but not limited to the following:

• Filling of vacancies as a measure to improve internal capacity of the state;
• Development of audit action plans, which will be monitored on a monthly basis through submission of progress reports during the sittings of the EXCO;
• Strengthening of internal controls for the improvement of financial management, and
• Implementation of consequence management for transgression of financial and non financial prescripts.

Mr Ndlovu says apart from the delivery of services to the citizens of Mpumalanga, the improvement of audit outcomes, should be one of the characteristics of the 7th administration.

During the sitting, Mr Ndlovu further announced a plan to table his report that depicts the hundred days in office, since taking an oath in June 2024. He committed himself to table the report on Tuesday, next week in Mbombela.

APPOINTMENT

1. Ms Cynthia Nkuna: Chief Financial Officer - (Deputy Director General).

ENDS...


Issued by the Mpumalanga Provincial Government
Enquiries:
Executive Council’s Spokesperson: Mr Thulasizwe Thomo
Provincial Government’s Spokesperson: Mr George Mthethwa
Tel: (013) 766 2242
Mobile:083 302 2774
E-mail: gpmthethwa@mpg.gov.za