Garden Route comes up smelling of roses

Auditor-general gives four municipalities clean bill of health

THE Garden Route municipalities received the ultimate stamp of approval this past week when all the major local governments were given a clean bill of health. Auditor-general Kimi Makwetu gave the DA-run Mossel Bay, George, Knysna and Bitou municipalities a clean audit.

While for some the achievement was a first in about a decade, others are making a habit of keeping their finances in order.

Mossel Bay became part of a very small group of municipalities to succeed in obtaining three consecutive clean audits.

Municipal spokesman Harry Hill said only about 5% of all municipalities managed this and they were very proud.

To receive a clean audit, there have to be no material misstatements in the finances and no material findings on performance objectives or legislative non-compliances.

The George Municipality also joined this elite group this year after it too managed a third consecutive clean audit.

“It has become a part of our daily procedures and operations, and we now have to maintain this level of good governance to ensure we stay on track for a sustainable future in George,” mayor Charles Standers said yesterday.

The Knysna Municipality also managed to meet the necessary re- quirements during the 2013-14 financial year – the municipality’s second consecutive clean audit.

Acting Knysna municipal manager Grant Easton said receiving another clean audit was a real boon for the area.

“We strive to deliver the best possible service to our residents on a daily basis, while complying with the relevant legislation.

“Receiving this audit proves that governance processes introduced over the past few years are well entrenched and delivering constant results.

“A clean audit is a direct result of effective strategic planning supported by capacitated staff, effective processes and procedures,” Easton said.

Knysna mayor Georlene Wol- marans thanked the administration and departments for their hard work.

“A team is only as good as its players, and we may once again proudly say we see to the needs of Knysna while adhering to the prescribed rules and regulations,” Wolmarans said.

For the Bitou Municipality, a clean audit was a new experience.

During a council meeting yesterday Bitou mayor Memory Booysen said it had received its first clean audit since 1994.

Municipal manager Allen Paulse said he had made it his goal since his appointment in 2012 to achieve a clean audit within five years.

One of his key moves was appointing a team with the necessary skills to get the job done.