Five Chris Hani District Municipalities Achieve Unqualified Audit Opinions

Five local municipalities under Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) received unqualified audit opinions from the Auditor General of South Africa Tsakani Maluleke in the 2024/2025 financial year.

Emalahleni, Dr AB Xuma, Sakhisizwe, Intsika Yethu and Inxuba Yethemba local municipalities received unqualified audit opinions while Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM) and the district authority (CHDM) maintained qualified audit opinions.

Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality executive mayor Noncedo Zonke expressed pride in the municipality’s consistent achievement of unqualified audit opinions since the 2020/2021 financial year and she attributed the success to the municipality’s effective implementation of its programs.

Consistent in achieving unqualified audit opinions

Zonke said since she took over as the executive mayor of the municipality in the 2020/2021 financial year they have been consistent in achieving unqualified audit opinions.

“Again in the 2024/2025 financial year we received an unqualified audit opinion,” she said.

Sakhisizwe mayor Boniswa Ponashe echoed similar sentiments, stating that the unqualified audit opinion reflects the municipality’s efforts in ensuring effective governance.

Intsika Yethu mayor Khanyisa Mdleleni receiving a unqualified audit opinion means a lot to them as a political leadership of the municipality.

We commit ourselves to scrutinise the report and the findings

“We commit ourselves to scrutinise the report and the findings that are outlined by AGSA will be taken care by populating an Audit Action plan with timeframes on resolving those matters,” she said.

Emalahleni Local Municipality spokesman Luthando Nqumkana said the municipality received an unqualified audit opinion with findings for the financial year 2024/25.

“Meaning that the Audit findings for 2024/25 financial statements are free from material misstatements and present a true and fair view,” he said.

Nqumkana alluded that these outcomes were concluded at the period under review.

Will develop the audit action plan and present it to council

“In trying to address the findings management will develop the audit action plan and present it to council for approval and report to the relevant institutions,” said Nqumkana.

He said the past consecutive years including 2023/24 audit outcomes have mostly been standing on qualified and this has dimed the light of the municipality at large.

“Through continuous efforts the Auditor General has announced an improvement as the municipality is now sitting with an unqualified audit status,” he said.

We are happy with the audit outcomes, the improvement is noticeable

“We are happy with the audit outcomes, the improvement is noticeable. From the previous years, we have done so well as a collective. This is not an achievement which is achieved through the efforts of few individuals but the entire municipal workforce made of the political leadership and all employees from various levels.

“As well as the support received from government institutions mandated to give us support. We are a step closer to the clean audit. Once the audit action plan is developed and approved by Council we will monitor its implementation”, said mayor Nontombizanele Koni.

She said the audit outcomes raise hopes to all parties involved in service delivery activities as it shows commitment and dedication to serve the community better, ensure good governance and financial viability.