KwaZulu-Natal Finance MEC Francois Rodgers has raised serious concerns over the poor audit outcomes in several municipalities, following a 2024–2025 Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) audit outcomes briefing presented to the Provincial Legislature by Auditor-General Tsakane Maluleke.
During the recent presentation, the Auditor-General highlighted ongoing weaknesses in compliance with the Municipal Finance Management Act, identifying this as a primary cause of persistent audit failures.
These include poor financial discipline, weak governance structures, and inadequate consequence management, factors that directly undermine service delivery and erode public trust in local government.
Rodgers condemned the disregard for financial legislation by some municipalities and their leadership.
“The MFMA is not optional—it is a legal and ethical obligation. Poor compliance with the Act leads directly to poor audit outcomes, financial instability, and ultimately the inability of municipalities to deliver basic services to our people. This culture of non-compliance must end,” Rodgers said.
At the same time, the MEC acknowledged municipalities that continue to demonstrate discipline and commitment to good governance, noting that improvement is achievable where leadership takes responsibility seriously.
“We commend municipalities such as Richmond Local Municipality, which have shown that openness to working closely with KZN Treasury, adherence to the MFMA, strong internal controls, and ethical leadership can result in improved audit outcomes. These municipalities prove that clean governance is achievable when there is discipline and political will,” the MEC said.
KwaZulu-Natal Treasury reiterated its alignment with the Auditor-General’s consistent view that political leadership plays a central role in improving local government performance, and that councils, mayors, and municipal managers must account fully for how public funds are managed.
With local government elections approaching, Rodgers called for heightened accountability among political office-bearers.
“Now more than ever, as we head into local government elections, political will is imperative. Politicians must be reminded that they are custodians of public resources, not owners of them. Failure to uphold this responsibility has real consequences for communities,” the MEC said.
Echoing the Auditor-General’s call for a strengthened accountability ecosystem, Rodgers emphasised that accountability is not the responsibility of government alone.
“Citizens must actively exercise their democratic rights. Communities have the power to demand accountability, to ask how their money is spent, and to hold elected representatives to account for poor governance and maladministration,” he said.
KwaZulu-Natal Treasury reaffirmed its commitment to supporting municipalities through technical assistance, capacity building, and oversight, while insisting on firm consequences for persistent non-compliance with financial legislation.
“There can be no sustainable service delivery without accountability. Clean audits are not about pleasing the Auditor-General and Treasury; they are about restoring integrity in local government and improving the lived realities of our people,” Rodgers said. – SAnews.gov.za
