The Department of Transport has received a clean audit outcome from the Auditor-General South Africa (AGSA) for the 2024/25 financial year, ending a long period without such recognition.

This result reflects the department’s progress toward fully accountable and transparent governance.

Minister of Transport,  Barbara Creecy, and Deputy Minister, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, welcomed the positive audit findings, which showed no material misstatements in the Annual Financial Statements (AFS) submitted on time.

The AGSA found no significant deficiencies in internal controls, particularly in financial management processes, and identified no issues with the completeness of performance indicators used for planning and reporting.

Creecy and Hlengwa credited the clean audit to the department’s firm commitment to clean governance and accountability.

They pointed out management’s serious approach to assurance providers, ensuring they are well-resourced and capacitated.

They also emphasised management’s positive response to audit recommendations and the timely addressing of concerns through effective audit action plans. Proactive engagement with the AGSA and careful preparation for the audit process were also key to the smooth execution.

The outcome was achieved through combined efforts across the department, involving management, risk management, internal audit, and oversight committees, especially the Audit Committee. The Transport Portfolio Committee’s role in ensuring the department’s accountability to Parliament was also acknowledged.

Creecy and Hlengwa stressed the importance of this accomplishment, stating, “The Department’s clean audit outcome is a clear indication of the commitment to clean governance and accountability.”

They added, “Management taking its assurance providers seriously, and ensuring that they are appropriately resourced and capacitated” was a major factor.

Creecy and Hlenga also noted, “Management responding positively to audit recommendations, and addressing concerns timeously, through effective audit action plans” showed the department’s dedication.

Moreover, they highlighted the department’s forward-looking approach by “engaging the AGSA for proactive reviews, and preparing for the audit process timeously for smooth seamless execution.” 

Creecy and Hlengwa also praised the collective effort, saying, “A combined effort and assurance practice from all functions within the department, from Management efforts to Risk Management, Internal Audit, and oversight Committees, especially the Audit Committee,” along with the oversight role of the Transport Portfolio Committee, ensured accountability to Parliament.

hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za

Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.

IOL News 

Source link