Northern Cape departments' audit outcomes 'piecemeal' and disappointing - DA

The DA has raised concern that 85 percent of Northern Cape departments’ expenditure during the 2024/25 financial year did not meet the financial management or compliance standards set by the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA).

DA Northern Cape Provincial Spokesperson on the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa), Karen Jooste, stated that while six departments managed to sustain their clean audit outcomes in the 2024/25 financial year and an improvement was shown by the Northern Cape Department of Roads and Public Works, the improvements were “piecemeal”.

“It does not inspire confidence in public financial management overall when a third (33 percent) of provincial expenditure remains qualified and material findings were raised on a further 52 percent.” 

Jooste added that it was “particularly painful” to note the sustained poor performance and stagnation in the financial management of the Departments of Health and Education. 

“These two entities are entrusted with the bulk of provincial resources. Their continued audit failures confirm an inability to translate resources into tangible public services.

"This pattern also exposes weaknesses within oversight bodies, which continue to fall short of implementing the necessary controls and behavioural changes required for audit outcomes to improve,” she remarked.

Premier welcomes audit outcomes 

The Premier, Dr Zamani Saul, meanwhile, welcomed the audit outcomes released by the Auditor-General (AG) of South Africa, Tsakane Maluleke, on October 14.

Spokesperson for the Office of the Premier, Naledi Gaosekwe, said the meeting was part of the AG’s nationwide roadshow focused on strengthening provincial governance and addressing issues identified in the audits.

“The Northern Cape Provincial Government continues to register progress in strengthening financial governance as demonstrated by improved audit outcomes for the 2024/25 financial year. The audit outcomes reflect that there are no disclaimers or adverse findings. This achievement is a direct result of unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability and clean governance.” 

She indicated that: 

• Nine institutions received clean audit opinions, an improvement from 8 in the previous audit cycle
• Seven institutions were awarded unqualified audit outcomes
• Two institutions received qualified audit opinions
• Two  audits were still outstanding

Gaosekwe stated that the audit outcomes exhibited an improvement from the previous cycle.

“It signals the effectiveness of deliberate, intensified oversight, collaboration, and leadership commitment across the provincial administration. Notably, the oversight institutions, namely the Office of the Premier (OTP), Provincial Treasury (PT), and the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature (NCPL), have each maintained clean audit outcomes for more than five consecutive years. This consistent performance demonstrates the province's strong leadership, effective controls and an embedded culture of compliance within its core governance structures” 

She added that before the release of the audit outcomes, the Premier convened a successful quarterly audit rectification engagement with Members of the Executive Council, accounting officers, chief financial officers and officials from Treasury and the Office of the Premier. 

“The session served as a platform for reflection, collaboration and decisive action towards entrenching a culture of sound financial management across the provincial administration.

The engagement reinforced the need for consequence management, accountability, addressing root causes of recurring audit findings, sustaining clean administration and aligning financial management improvements with service delivery priorities.” 

She said that these engagements would be held quarterly to monitor progress made by departments, with oversight from Internal Audit, the Audit Committee, and the Executive Council.

Premier Saul commended departments and entities that achieved clean and unqualified audit outcomes and encouraged those with qualified opinions to accelerate the implementation of their audit action plans.

He emphasised the continued support from the Provincial Treasury through its CFO Forum, which coordinates coaching and mentoring between well-performing departments and those requiring improvement. 

Saul underscored the importance of peer learning from departments that have consistently maintained clean audit outcomes. 

“Departments are encouraged to build on lessons learned and to intensify their efforts towards full compliance with the Public Financial Management Act and other prescripts.

“Provincial government remains steadfast in its pursuit of clean, ethical and transparent administration by ensuring accountability to the citizens of the Northern Cape,” he added.