Cape Town: The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), along with the Standing Committee on the Auditor-General, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA), and other relevant parliamentary oversight committees, has committed to a coordinated approach to municipal oversight. This decision comes as a response to the concerning municipal audit outcomes reported by the Office of the Auditor-General earlier this year.
According to African Press Organization, the Chairperson, Dr. Zweli Mkhize, expressed concern during a committee meeting about the lack of progress in municipal finances. The audit outcomes for the 2023/24 financial year revealed that only 16% of 257 municipalities achieved clean audits, with the remainder either regressing or remaining stagnant. Audit opinions ranged from qualified to disclaimers or non-submissions. The Auditor-General noted that despite exercising all remedial powers under the amended Public Audit Act, the audit outcomes showed little improvement.
Dr. Mkhize confirmed that the committee sought legal clarity on coordinating oversight across government spheres. Several legal opinions were solicited to ensure the planned oversight aligns with cooperative governance principles, respecting each government's autonomy. The committee is now satisfied that the oversight plan aligns with constitutional provisions.
This new approach reflects Parliament's commitment to preventing dysfunction proactively. It aims to hold municipalities and provincial governments accountable, as they are constitutionally obligated under Section 154 of the Constitution to support and monitor local government. Premiers and MECs will be asked to account for their oversight roles, especially in cases of consistent municipal underperformance.
The Chairperson stated that this joint oversight model is a response to the Auditor-General's call for decisive intervention. The Office of the Auditor-General should not be burdened with administrative duties, such as correcting municipal submissions. The AG's role is to provide independent audit outcomes, not to compensate for governance failures.
Dr. Mkhize emphasized the importance of this collaborative oversight approach as a shift from fragmented accountability to collective responsibility. He stated that the model aims to serve as both a corrective measure and a blueprint for systemic reform, ensuring that audit reports lead to tangible improvements in governance and service delivery at the municipal level.
