The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities has received a clean audit from the Auditor-General for the second consecutive year, marking a significant milestone in government’s efforts to strengthen financial management and good governance within government.
A clean audit confirms that a department’s financial statements are free from material misstatements and fully comply with relevant legislation, reflecting sound accountability and transparency in its operations.
Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga and Deputy Minister Mmapaseka Steve Letsike welcomed the outcome, describing it as a vital step towards building a capable, ethical, and developmental state.
In a joint statement, they commended the department’s unwavering commitment to good governance, ethical standards, and strengthened internal controls.
“The achievement reflects consistent dedication to accountability and service delivery,” Chikunga and Letsike said.
The Auditor-General’s engagement report confirmed that the following programmes were audited in the annual performance report for the financial year, ending 31 March 2024:
• Advocacy and mainstreaming for the rights of women;
• Monitoring and evaluation;
• Research and coordination; and
• Rights of youth.
The department said it has strengthened its audit approach to ensure that irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditures are subjected to audit to confirm the validity, accuracy and completeness of the amounts recorded, even when they have been excluded from the annual financial statements.
According to the Auditor-General, the favourable opinion was based on critical areas, including the timely submission of annual financial statements.
This clean audit, defined as an unqualified opinion with no material findings, demonstrates the department’s dedication towards good governance, ethical standards, and stronger internal controls,” Chikunga and Letsike said.
While acknowledging that a clean audit does not necessarily mean responsive service delivery, the department reiterated its commitment and call to ensuring that women, youth, and persons with disabilities are mainstreamed in public and private sector services. – SAnews.gov.za
