North West to launch Clean Audit 2014

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Mafikeng - With the launch of Operation Clean Audit, the North West Provincial Government hopes to assist its 24 municipalities and 10 provincial departments in achieving clean audit reports by 2014.

North West Premier Maureen Modiselle, the Minister of Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Sicelo Shiceka and Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan will on Friday launch the Provincial Operation Clean Audit 2014 to address difficulties in achieving clean audits.

The provincial government spokesperson, Cornelius Tanana Monama, said the initiative would germinate sound accountability and governance within each department, which would in turn lead to improved service delivery.

"In light of various municipalities struggling to secure and manage state funds, this programme is aimed at achieving a common vision that by 2014 all 24 municipalities and 10 provincial departments and their respective entities will have clean audits on their annual financial statements and maintain systems for sustainably honest and accurate financial statements and management of information," Monama said.

He said during the launch, all major role players in the province would come together to sign a pledge committing themselves to ensuring that the objectives of Operation Clean Audit 2014 in the North West are achieved.

Some of the objectives of the pledge include collective work with relevant partners that share the 2014 vision for clean audits and foster knowledge sharing between partners, municipalities and provincial departments.

The objectives of the pledge also include the respect sensitivity and confidentiality of information shared during the project and providing support and promote best practices.

The departments involved in the operation are Local Government and Traditional Affairs (SALGA), Provincial Treasury, National Treasury, Office of the Premier and South African Local Government Association.

Monama said the Association of Standing Committees on Public Accounts shall provide political monitoring to ensure progress and objectives are effective while SALGA will endorse its prescribed political leadership role by mobilising participation and resources of municipalities.