North West Cogta Edges Closer to Clean Audit Status, Says MEC Molapisi

The North West Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) is steadily advancing toward achieving a Clean Audit opinion, following four consecutive years of receiving an Unqualified Audit opinion with no material misstatements.

In its most recent report, the Auditor-General attributed the department’s consistent audit success to the submission of credible, complete, and materially accurate financial statements. These submissions, according to the report, “fairly presented the financial performance of the Department.”

MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Gaoage Oageng Molapisi, lauded the department’s trajectory while acknowledging that further improvements are still needed. “As a department that is supporting municipalities in the province, we must lead by example. We must be counted amongst the departments that are performing well in managing their finances,” said Molapisi.

He further stated that the department has identified three municipalities—Moretele Local Municipality, Bojanala Platinum District Municipality, and Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality—as targets to receive Clean Audit opinions in the next financial year.

“Therefore, we must also count ourselves in and do everything right to achieve it,” remarked MEC Molapisi.

To consolidate its financial standing and work towards a Clean Audit, the department plans to implement a post-audit action plan. This strategy aims to address all audit-related matters and reinforce internal control mechanisms. “With the plan, we will ensure that every financial transaction done is within the financial prescripts to avoid irregular, wasteful and fruitless expenditure,” the department noted.

In a broader effort to enhance financial accountability across the province, the department has pledged to intensify its support to municipalities. This support will be coordinated in collaboration with the Provincial Treasury to help municipalities improve their audit outcomes through the submission of “credible, quality assured financial statements.”