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The Gauteng department of co-operative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) says the new seven-step Interim Financial Statements (IFS) protocol will help the province finally achieve clean audits after years of dismal outcomes.
Cogta MEC Jacob Mamabolo said clean audits were non-negotiable for Gauteng as the economic hub of the country.
“We must lead in financial discipline. Public resources must be protected and our message is that credible financial management is non-negotiable,” Mamabolo said.
He said good governance and credible institutions were the building blocks of economic growth.
“Our work helps build an economy that create jobs, reduce poverty and inequality, and improves the quality of life of our people.”
The protocol was signed at the Brixton multipurpose centre on Tuesday by Cogta, the provincial treasury and all municipalities in the province under the theme “From Year-End Audit Preparation to Continuous Audit Readiness, A Collective Commitment to Credible Municipal Financial Reporting”.
Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero said the IFS protocol will assist the province to turn its audit outcomes around.
“We cannot fix what we refuse to name. We are committing to credible reporting throughout the year, not just at year-end.” Morero said.
“The auditor-general has gone through all our audit reports which have reflected vast weaknesses in almost all Gauteng municipalities. We are choosing to be measured against our own word.“
The province has struggled to produce clean audits. Only two of 11 municipalities, Midvaal and West Rand District, achieved clean audits in 2024/25, for the second year running. Six received unqualified opinions with findings and three, including Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni, received qualified audits.
Nationally, only 39 of 257 municipalities passed and no metro got a clean audit.
Cogta said the IFS approach moves away from year-end panic to continuous readiness, with municipalities preparing statements throughout the year for review by the Treasury and the auditor-general (AG) so that errors can be fixed early.
This would address repeat findings where the AG flagged that “similar non-compliance was reported in the previous year”.
The South African Local Government Association said it will support municipalities through training and strengthening audit committees.
TimesLIVE
Malwande Ndzimande
www.timeslive.co.za
