The Department of Home Affairs has noted the 2017/18 Consolidated Audit Outcomes of National and Provincial Governments, released by Auditor-General Kimi Makwetu on Wednesday.
The department said it views the audit outcomes as an empowering instrument that points to what needs to be done to improve internal controls, resulting in reliable financial statements, credible reporting on service delivery and compliance with legislation.
The department was not in the list of the top 10 national departments contributing to unauthorised expenditure, and does not feature on the list of top 10 contributors to irregular expenditure, or among those flagged for fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
Home Affairs Acting Director-General Thulani Mavuso said the department will continue improving on aspects of financial management needing attention.
“We eye a clean audit for which we have mobilised for all hands to be on deck. As recommended in the report, we will do even more to plan, check and act for better results,” Mavuso said.
Although the number of auditees that obtained unqualified audit opinions decreased from 301 to 295 since the previous year, and from 299 since 2014/15, Mavuso said the department obtained an unqualified audit opinion in 2017/18, as it did in 2016/17.
Mavuso highlighted that in the year ending 31 March 2018, Home Affairs spent 99.9% of its allocated budget. The department also achieved 86% of the 28 targets in its annual performance plan, which is a 2% improvement from last year’s 84%.
The department has further registered 772 035 births within 30 days of birth, against a target of 750 000; issued 8 049 permanent residence permits, of which 7 810 were finalised within the set target of eight months. This included critical skills, general work and business visas, and finalised 6 684 critical skills work visas, 5 935 of which were finalised within four weeks.
“This shows sustained commitment to delivery against shrinking budget allocations,” Mavuso said.
However, Mavuso admitted that the department’s budget of just over R7 billion, which includes the IEC allocation, remains a huge challenge in meeting its constitutional obligations of servicing 57 million citizens plus millions of foreign nationals who visit South Africa annually.
“Our footprint of 412 offices is inadequate, and we are working with the Department of Public Works and National Treasury to address this matter.” – SAnews.gov.za
