By: Sello Theletsane
While many municipalities across the country have become so dysfunctional, prompting the national or provincial government to step in to try and restore governance, financial management, and service delivery, a small municipality in the Western Cape continues to shine.
Theewaterskloof Municipality has received its fourth consecutive clean audit from the auditor General, the first under the current governing coalition comprising the ANC, Patriotic Alliance (PA), and The Good Party (GOOD).
“This confirms the municipality’s compliance with the requirements of the Municipal Financial Management Act and other pieces of legislation, high levels of financial and bookkeeping controls and processes, financial management; and budget control,” said executive Mayor Alderman Papier.
Papier added that the clean audit “reaffirms that the administration and the municipal council upholds high financial integrity and that the bulk of our income is utilised for service delivery”.
“It furthermore confirms that the Auditor General is satisfied with the spending of municipal funds and Theewaterskloof’s ability to operate within the parameters of the approved budget. This was by no means an easy audit and we are one of the few municipalities that achieved the 30 November deadline. Many other municipalities have received extensions until 15 December.”
Added Papier: ”On behalf of my office, the entire council, and management, I would like to extend our thanks, gratitude, and congratulations to the entire Financial Directorate and our Acting Chief Financial Officer for their hard work. It has not gone unnoticed and it is due to their dedication that we were able to make this difficult deadline.”
Papier said the audit outcome “exemplifies good governance and sound financial practices with strong interdependencies on functionalities such as human resources and performance management, a combination that ensures high-quality service delivery”.
“The AG’s audit process is strict, intense, and thorough, and very few municipalities receive a clean audit annually. It is indeed an achievement to receive our fourth consecutive clean audit as a municipality.”
While he welcomed the clean audit, Papier said it does not mean that his municipality is rich or has substantial reserves. “Our income sources are under severe pressure and financial stability remains a challenge and priority to council and the management of Theewaterskloof Municipality.”
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following entities and individuals for contributing to the audit process: The Auditor General and the AG’s office for constructive cooperation with the municipality; the Council; my Executive Mayoral Committee, the Finance Portfolio Chairperson, Councillor Rinah Mienies, the Municipal Manager Mr. Boy Manqoba Ngubo, the Acting Chief Financial Officer Mr. Ashwille Riddles, the Finance Directorate, the Chief Audit Executive, Mr. Anton Opperman, and his staff; the External Audit and Performance Committee and the entire municipal administration.”
Papier also thanked” all people of Theewaterskloof who allow us to serve them and work within their communities”.
