Auditor-General (AG), Kimi Makwetu says Mangaung’s audit outcome was still outstanding by the cut-off date for the report - the only metro out of eight that failed to submit on time. 

Makwetu says in the report that this is due to late submission or non-submission of financial statements on the part of municipalities. 

The Free State metro’s financial state has come under public scrutiny of late after it was revealed that water board, Bloem Water had decided to impose further water restrictions due to non-payment on the part of Mangaung. The water board says the municipality owes it millions for water supply. Mangaung Spokesperson Qondile Khedama, however, has accused the water board of overcharging the municipality. 

With Mangaung not included in the report, Buffalo City, which includes East London, King William’s Town and Bhisho was the only metro whose audit outcomes regressed for the 2017/18 financial year, while the others remained more or less the same. 

According to the report “71% of the metros produced unqualified financial statements, only 57% had credible performance reports and all of them had material compliance findings. The irregular expenditure decreased by 43% at the metros”.

OFM News