Dr Cloete is now calling on the Auditor-General's office to audit Human Resource practices in municipalities. This as AG Tsakani Maluleke revealed last week that consultants made R1,26 billion in 2020/21 doing basic financial accounting tasks at municipalities. An indication that there is no skills transfer either, despite the presence of municipal officials in these roles. Cloete further adds that dysfunctional local municipalities have an adverse impact on local businesses and the economy. 

According to Cloete: "The new municipal staff regulations come into effect on 1 July 2022 and are the perfect restart for local government. Not only does it clarify the recruitment and selection process, but also sets the competency framework for municipal staff. It further clarifies the skills development and performance management protocols that place managers at the centre of human resource development. But the implementation of the regulations must be subjected and policed through an audit process akin to that of the AG". 

He further stresses that municipalities cannot be left to their own devices in terms of the implementation of the aforementioned regulations. They need to be policed and audited.