Lesetja Malope
A recent report by the Auditor General has revealed that Limpopo is one of only three provinces that registered a net gain in the number of improved municipal audit results over the previous year.
The province’s number of clean audits has improved from four to eight.
The other two provinces are Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal. The worst municipal audit opinions (disclaime and adverse) are in the Northern Cape, Free State and Eastern Cape provinces.
The report also states that of the 283 municipalities countrywide, seven municipalities in the province are among the 23 that have shown a notable improvement.
Municipalities in the province are also among those who have reduced their capital asset qualifications.
Municipalities in the Northern Cape accounted for the highest increase of unauthorised, fruitless and wasteful and irregular expenditure over the 2007-08 year, while Limpopo was the only province where a reduction occurred in the number of qualifications relating to this type of expenditure.
Two municipalities, Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality and Sekhukhune District Municipality, have been getting disclaimers ever since their inception while Musina Local Municipality has been the pride of the province with their sound financial management which has resulted in unqualified audit reports for almost a decade.
Local Government and Housing MEC Soviet Lekganyane earlier this year during his budget speech announced the establishment of Municipal Public Accounts Committees (MPACs) which he said are aimed at clean, accountable and transparent administration in municipalities.
At the time, he also congratulated Polokwane Municipality, Waterberg District Municipality, Musina Municipality, Fetakgomo Municipality, Marble Hall Municipality, Mopani District Municipality, Letaba Municipality and Aganang Municipality for getting unqualified audit reports for the financial year 2008/09.
The department has also deployed financial management experts to municipalities.
Meanwhile Polokwane Municipality already received its latest audit report and according to Public Relations Officer Phuti Lekganyane it will be made public only after council has approved it.
