AG reports overall improved audit outcomes, calls for government to enhance planning and service delivery monitoring and reporting

Phuti Mosomane

Auditor-General (AG) Tsakani Maluleke on Wednesday reported “an overall improvement” in the national and provincial government audit outcomes.

However, Maluleke also noted that there were 2 394 unoccupied government properties, most of which have not been maintained and are in a bad state. 

Yet rates and taxes are levied on them.

“When there are not enough fit-for-use properties available to departments, the Property Management Trading Entity needs to enter into lease agreements – which could have been avoided if properties had been properly maintained,” Maluleke reported.

Maluleke further cautions that such lease agreements are often costly to the government because of high annual increases and higher-than-average market rates being paid.

In 2022-23, the AGSA audited 137 infrastructure projects, focusing on critical infrastructure including health facilities, schools, housing, roads and railways, water infrastructure, and government buildings such as police stations.

“Our audit work incorporated numerous site visits by our