Cape Town Gets Clean Bill From Auditor General

capetownguy

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South Africa: Cape Town Gets Clean Bill From Auditor General

15 December 2008

Cape Town — For the fifth consecutive year, the Auditor- General has given the City of Cape Town an unqualified report for the financial year ending 30 June 2008.

Welcoming the report, the City of Cape Town's Chief Financial Officer, Mike Richardson, said this confirms the city's financial resources are being managed in accordance with strict national guidelines.

"This will give confidence to all our stakeholders that their money is in safe hands and that we have all proper financial controls in place," he said.

The Auditor-General's reports come in three categories:

* An unqualified report, which indicates that, overall, the city's finances have been found to be in order. Concerns of a minor or technical nature are listed as "matters emphasised."

* A qualified report is issued where there has been mismanagement, over-expenditure or unauthorised expenditure.

* A disclaimed report indicates major irregularities that should send out a red light to stakeholders.

"The report will also give confidence to all our stakeholders that our financial systems are being run efficiently as we approach the FIFA 2010 World Cup", said Richardson, adding that it " indicates that we have the financial management skills required for the build-up to the FIFA 2010 World Cup and thereafter."

There are two minor "matters emphasised" in the city's unqualified audit report for the 2007/08 year.

One relates to the lapse in the approval authority for the appointment of a labour broker, while the other concerns an amendment to comparative figures from earlier years.

The various stakeholders in the city's finances will be reassured that all control processes appear to be in line with accepted standards and that the only concerns expressed are technical in nature.

To the national and provincial treasuries, the unqualified report means that the funds they have provided have been properly utilised and accounted for.

Residents and ratepayers are also reassured that the money they have paid for rates and services has been spent prudently, while financial institutions can take comfort from the knowledge that their loans to the city are in safe hands, and will be repaid.

Also commenting on the report, Councillor Ian Neilson, Mayoral Committee Member for Finance said: "The unqualified report indicates to ratepayers that the city is managing the ratepayer's money in a responsible manner and is conforming to the requirements of law.

"Their money is secure and expenditure is properly authorised. Adequate controls are in place to ensure that corrupt practices are strongly discouraged."
 

capetownguy

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DA has increase its seats in the Council to 97 of the 210 seats. The Coalition now has a clear majority.
 

brixton tower

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South Africa: Cape Town Gets Clean Bill From Auditor General

15 December 2008

Cape Town — For the fifth consecutive year, the Auditor- General has given the City of Cape Town an unqualified report for the financial year ending 30 June 2008.

Please calm down with all the chest beating. Last time I checked the coalition that runs Cape Town only got into office three years ago. Before that it was an ANC council running the metro and even with whispers of major corruption scandals we're still waiting for any former official to be hauled off to court.

It does not take any rocket science to run Cape Town. All they have to do is stay within budget and spend money on appropriate projects like housing, health and on sustainable economic development.
 

Tassidar

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Please calm down with all the chest beating. Last time I checked the coalition that runs Cape Town only got into office three years ago. Before that it was an ANC council running the metro and even with whispers of major corruption scandals we're still waiting for any former official to be hauled off to court.

It does not take any rocket science to run Cape Town. All they have to do is stay within budget and spend money on appropriate projects like housing, health and on sustainable economic development.

Surprisingly most municipalities can't get it right, though.
 

rwenzori

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Surprisingly most municipalities can't get it right, though.

Finally I found some figures:

There had also been a modest overall improvement in all categories of audit opinion, with 23% of municipalities having been given unqualified reports, and 28% with qualified reports. 50% received disclaimers of audit opinions, as some municipalities did not keep relevant records, making it difficult for auditors to conduct a proper audit. The document that he tabled set out the statistics (see attached presentation)

http://www.pmg.org.za/report/200808...-municipalities-auditor-general-accountant-ge

Looks like half are a bit of a shambles, but the 23% unqualified is also a ( good ) surprise!
 

brixton tower

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Finally I found some figures:



http://www.pmg.org.za/report/200808...-municipalities-auditor-general-accountant-ge

Looks like half are a bit of a shambles, but the 23% unqualified is also a ( good ) surprise!

Thanks for the link. Contrary to popular belief, most municipalities aren't havens of corruption. The small ones have problems in attracting competent financial managers. This is often the difference in getting either qualified or unqualified report from the AG.
 
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