Council Public Engagements

CITY OF EKURHULENI CLARIFIES MISTRUTHS SURROUNDING STATEMENTS MADE ABOUT THE AUDITOR GENERAL’S REPORT

By Thulasizwe City of Ekurhuleni 709

The City of Ekurhuleni wishes to address and clarify the recent incorrect narratives circulating in the media concerning the Auditor General’s Unqualified Audit Opinion of the city. It is imperative to correct the inaccuracies and present an accurate depiction of the AG’s report that was tabled in Council on 12th March 2024.

The unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure figures are disclosed in Note 47 of the COE and Note 48  of the Group audited financial statements. The correct figures are disclosed as follows:

  • The city received an unqualified audit opinion, which is an upstanding audit outcome and a slight regression from our previous three consecutive clean audit opinions.
  • The city’s financial statements are in the green, as reflected in the audited financial statements.
  • In terms of our audited service delivery indicators, the city is in the green, having achieved 78%, which is an improvement from the previous financial year.
  • The city is on record for not incurring unauthorised, fruitless and wasteful expenditure as disclosed in the audited financial statements for this current financial year.
  • The city has incurred an irregular expenditure of R21.8 million identified by the AG for the current financial year and has committed to addressing this issue promptly in agreement with the AG’s findings.

The city is committed to transparency, accountability, and the highest standards of fiscal responsibility. As such, we take any misrepresentation of our financial statements, especially after being audited and presented by the Auditor General of South Africa in council, with utmost seriousness and rigor.

The unqualified audit opinion indicates that our financial statements present a fair and accurate picture of our financial position and that they have been properly prepared in accordance with the relevant financial standards prescribed in the Municipal Finance Management Act.

We see this as an opportunity to strengthen our systems and processes, ensuring that the City of Ekurhuleni not only meets but exceeds the standards of governance, transparency, and accountability expected by our citizens and stakeholders.

We strongly encourage media representatives and the public to consult the city’s financial statements as audited by the Auditor General, rather than relying on information from unofficial sources. The city’s audited financial statements can be accessed for review on the city’s official website.