Western Cape leads the Nation in Auditor-General report

27 August 2024

The Western Cape has once again set the standard for good governance, topping the Auditor-General’s Consolidated General Report on Local Government Audit Outcomes for the 2022/23 period. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Western Cape commends the outstanding performance of municipalities in the province, where nearly 70% (20 out of 30) achieved clean audits.

Of the 34 municipalities across South Africa that received clean audits, the majority (58.8%) were from the Western Cape. In stark contrast, municipalities outside the Western Cape continue to face challenges in delivering credible financial statements, as highlighted by the Auditor-General: “Municipalities in all provinces except the Western Cape continued to struggle with preparing credible financial statements.”

Notably, the municipalities consistently failing their residents in the Western Cape remain those under opposition control. This pattern highlights the importance of electing leaders who prioritize sound financial management and service delivery. The DA calls on residents to hold those accountable who mismanage their hard-earned tax money.

MPP Dave Bryant expressed his satisfaction with the results, stating: “The Democratic Alliance proudly congratulates the Western Cape municipalities who received clean audits for once again demonstrating that public funds are best utilized when the needs of residents come first. Unfortunately, this level of accountability and excellence is absent in non-DA-run municipalities, which continue to lag behind in local government audit outcomes.

The DA has consistently proven to be the party of clean, effective governance. We remain committed to ensuring that where we govern, residents can trust that their money is being spent on the services and infrastructure they need. As we look toward the next local government election, we call on voters to hold underperforming municipalities accountable and choose leadership that delivers real results.”

Issued by Dave Bryant, DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, 27 August 2024