MEC wants plans after auditor-general concerns

Western Cape finance MEC Alan Winde has ordered provincial departments to compile an action plan to fix matters raised in the auditor-general's 2011 report card.

Winde said in Cape Town on Thursday that the results of the province's public entities were slightly down on last year.

"We take these results extremely seriously as they are the most reliable indicator of how we are managing the taxpayers' money entrusted to us for service delivery," he said.

"In light of the decline in our results this year, each department will be required to compile a comprehensive action plan to address any unresolved matters raised by the auditor-general."

He had also asked the provincial treasury to conduct an analysis of the audit report card and the associated management reports.

Winde said he wanted a step-by-step plan to correct those issues affecting more than one department or entity.

According to the AG's report card, every department in the province received an unqualified audit opinion.

Three departments - community safety, agriculture and provincial parliament - achieved clean audits. Eleven departments achieved unqualified audit reports with findings.

This opinion was received when the AG raised minor issues which had to be corrected in the year ahead.

In 2009-10, seven departments achieved clean audits and six departments achieved unqualified audits with other matters.

Two entities, CapeNature and Cape Town Routes Unlimited, achieved clean reports. Nine entities received financially unqualified opinions with findings.

One entity, the Western Cape housing development fund, received a disclaimer as its accounting framework was not adopted before the conclusion of the financial year.