Capture Date: Tue, 11/11/2008 - 18:10
CHANNELS:
By Siboniso Ntuli
Pietermaritzburg - Municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal have shown a significant improvement in the management of their financial affairs over the past three years.
MEC for Local Government, Housing and Traditional Affairs Mike Mabuyakhulu said there was general progress in financial management across the province, with the majority submitting their annual financial statements on deadline.
"In relation to the number of submissions to the Auditor General for the current period 2007/2008, a commendable 89 percent submission rate was achieved.
"Our target is to have 100 percent compliance rate for the 2008/2009 financial year and this target as achievable," said MEC Mabuyakhulu.
The department said in addition some municipalities had progressed from receiving disclaimers in the past to receiving qualified audit opinions.
According to the department, even low capacity municipalities such as Umlalazi and uMsinga, received clean audit reports.
The department said 50 municipalities had internal control units either individually or on a shared basis. The municipal environment has acknowledged the necessity of such units.
Mr Mabuykhulu said his department was doing its best to offer support to municipalities to establish internal audit units.
"An interrogative but supportive measure is currently being embarked on to gauge the level of effectiveness and functionality of the audit committees."
According to the MEC, 56 municipalities approved their budgets within the stipulated timeframe thus affording the province a compliance rate of 92 percent.
However, five municipalities did not comply with the deadline but have since submitted. - BuaNews