South Africa’s local government sphere can only improve if roleplayers ensure accountability for government spending and the improvement of service delivery, says Auditor-General (AG) Tsakani Maluleke.
The AG made the remarks while presenting the consolidated general report on local government audit outcomes for the 2020/21 financial year during a press briefing on Wednesday.
Her office’s latest report reflects on the audit outcomes over the five-year term of the previous local government administration.
Addressing reporters, she said trends in the report demonstrate that the fourth administration (2016-2021) left municipalities in a worse financial position than when they took office.
“The lack of improvement in municipal outcomes is an indictment on the entire local government accountability ecosystem, which failed to act and arrest the decline that continued to be characterised by service delivery challenges in municipalities.”
Therefore, she said, the report “presents a not-to-be-missed opportunity for the new administration to address the already reported audit findings”.
The AGSA required there be responsiveness "so when something goes wrong, somebody acts and makes sure that there is accountability" and "stem the losses".
"When you look at the number of material irregularities (MIs), we have to shift the culture towards one where responsiveness by those that lead institutions increases, where there is ongoing attention to driving the systematic improvements in the culture of compliance within these municipalities.
"For effective organisational performance, every institution needs strict processes, predictable systems, a clear set of values that are upheld through disciplined monitoring, timely and effective oversight that reward good behavior."
More than this, she said, there should be sanctions for poor performance, transgressions and deviations through effective consequence management.
"Leaders of municipalities must turn their attention to systematically restoring the integrity of their institutions."
In this regard, she said leaders must stabilise and capacitate the administration in their municipalities, institutionalise strong financial management disciplines on budgeting, collecting or even expenditure.
"They must enable and insist on regular, credible financial and performance report and use these to monitor and to oversee and to act," she said.
Leaders must set the right leadership tone and example around ethical conduct, discipline, action and consequences for wrongdoing.
"If we all focus on the institution, institution building by identifying, confronting and addressing the real issues that make it difficult to build and sustain a culture of performance, integrity, transparency and accountability, then we shall win all of the accountability ecosystem players must pay their part.
"They must support, monitor and must act swiftly and effectively," she concluded.
Source: South African Government News Agency