AG warns of 'minimal progress' in audit outcomes
Fact-Check Results
“Auditor-general (AG) Tsakani Maluleke has criticised the 'minimal progress' toward improving government audit results with only 151 government departments, or 36%, receiving unqualified audit opinions in 2024/25.”
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INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
— No evidence found in archive to confirm or refute the claim about audit opinions percentages
“This was a slight increase from the 142 achieved in 2023/24, and showed the AG’s audit counsel had not been 'adequately heeded'.”
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INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
— No evidence found in archive to verify the claim about audit opinion increases
“In 2024/25, auditees incurred R1.4bn in fruitless and wasteful expenditure, down from R3.5bn recorded in the previous year.”
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INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
— No evidence found in archive to confirm the fruitless expenditure figures
“High-impact auditees were responsible for 84% (R1.19bn) of the amount.”
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INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
— No evidence found in archive to verify the high-impact auditee percentage
“The AG said fruitless and wasteful expenditure of R1.6bn remains under assessment and has not been disclosed, 'of which R1.28bn has exceeded the prescribed resolution timelines'.”
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INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
— No evidence found in archive to confirm the remaining assessment figures
“Claims against departments accounted for R116bn, departmental accruals R51.2bn, and deficits at 158 auditees R58.08bn.”
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INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
— No evidence found in archive to verify the claims against departments figures
“There were 161 material irregularities with an estimated financial loss of R9.1bn due to paying for items not received, revenue non-collection and penalties for late payments.”
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INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
— No evidence found in archive to confirm the material irregularities figures
“The 151 auditees that received clean audits represented 36% of the total number of auditees, 'they look after only 12% of the national and provincial expenditure budget'.”
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INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
— No evidence found in archive to verify the clean audit expenditure percentage
“266 auditees did not receive clean audits were responsible for managing 88% of the total expenditure budget but 'continue to lack the institutional capability to produce credible financial and performance reports or ensure compliance with legislation'.”
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INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
— No evidence found in archive to confirm the non-clean audit expenditure management
“A total of 175 auditees received unqualified opinion with findings in 2024/25, an increase from the 161 recorded in the previous year; 73 received qualified opinions with findings, and five received disclaimers, an increase from the one auditee recorded in 2023/24.”
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INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
— No evidence found in archive to verify the audit opinion distribution figures
“Land Bank, SABC, Transnet, and Industrial Development Corporation received unqualified audit opinions with findings.”
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PENDING
“Maluleke said: 'Throughout our report, we highlight weaknesses in governance, oversight, accountability, institutional capability and intergovernmental processes'.”
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PENDING
“With regards to 19 audited state-owned enterprises, the Development Bank of Southern Africa and the SA Nuclear Energy Corporation were the only two SOEs that received clean audits.”
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PENDING
“Eskom received a qualified opinion with findings.”
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PENDING
“Such weaknesses were not the result of unclear mandates, ill-defined legal responsibilities or insufficient funding, but rather due to role players not fulfilling their legislative roles effectively.”
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PENDING
“SA Post Office, SA Airways and Denel received disclaimers.”
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PENDING
“DA-run Western Cape led the provinces with the highest rate of clean audits, followed by Gauteng with 13, KwaZulu-Natal seven, Limpopo, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape (six each), Mpumalanga four and North West and Free State (three each).”
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PENDING
“Disclaimer signifies the company’s accounts cannot be relied on, often suggesting the company is in a serious financial state.”
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PENDING