Gauteng Provincial Departments have made strides towards improved financial management, with eight departments being awarded clean audit outcomes for the 2024/25 financial year. Finance and Economic Development Department MEC Lebogang Maile shared this positive news on Sunday, marking an important development in the province’s ongoing battle for transparency and accountability.
The departments achieving clean audits included the Office of the Premier, Provincial Legislature, Provincial Treasury, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, e-Government, Economic Development, Community Safety, and Roads and Transport. These outcomes reflect a commitment to financial integrity and the responsible use of taxpayer funds.
However, not all departments fared as well. MEC Maile pointed out that the departments of Infrastructure Development, Agriculture and Rural Development, Social Development, Health, and Human Settlements received unqualified audit opinions—evidence that standards were not fully met, primarily due to non-compliance issues. Furthermore, the Departments of Education and Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation witnessed a loss of their clean audit status, raising concerns about fiscal management and operational transparency.
On a broader scale, the results from provincial entities displayed a more mixed performance. Out of 19 entities, only 14 achieved clean audits, which included prominent organisations such as the Liquor Board, Gauteng Growth and Development Agency, Gautrain, and Gauteng Film Commission. The MEC’s announcement highlighted that despite achievements, the assessment casts a shadow over the significant R4.2 billion in irregular expenditure that has been recently registered, which brings a critical focus to the ongoing challenges facing the provincial administration.
MEC Maile welcomed the progress made and underscored the Gauteng government’s resolution to bolster oversight, accountability, and compliance measures. He introduced new initiatives aimed at reforming the procurement process within provincial government departments. Notably, Maile emphasised a shift towards digitalisation, which is intended to mitigate corruption opportunities and enhance transparency in tender processes.
“When you apply for your tender, it will be digital. The evaluation and monitoring will also be digital. That way, no one will be able to tamper with documents and lie. That’s where corruption begins to thrive,” he concluded, underscoring the administration’s serious commitment to reform.
The announcement from the Gauteng Provincial Government signals that while there is notable improvement in financial reporting and accountability, ongoing compliance issues must be addressed vigorously. As the province pushes forward with its digital transition and stricter procurement protocols, the future of its financial governance hangs in a balance, reliant on not just achieving clean audits but sustaining them against the backdrop of fiscal responsibility and service delivery.
