Focus: Unconventional skills can transform the public sector

Desperate times call for unconventional skills that can transform the public sector, writes Msizi Gwala, Project Director at SAICA. South Africa is facing a myriad of challenges. There are concerns acout audit outcomes, lack of accountability, world-leading inequality and service delivery protests. There were early signs of issues, such as the early struggles of state-owned…

Focus: The lack of internal controls negatively impacts service

Internal controls are the first line of defence against fraud, waste and abuse and help public sector institutions to deliver on their mandates. Furthermore, a robust control system, comprising effective internal control, risk management and audit, is fundamental to better governance, safeguarding of taxpayers’ money, and preserving public trust in government. However, the lack of…

Focus: Concerns around public finance management consulting

The use of consultants in public finance management and reporting has become a significant cost to the fiscus, with stakeholders such as the Auditor-General raising concerns about its sustainability. Management consulting is the practice of providing consulting services to organisations to improve their performance or assist in achieving organisational objectives. Organisations utilise the services of…

Focus: Assist public schools to achieve enhanced accountability and good governance

Good governance in public schools is essential to ensure that learners receive quality education and that the school operates effectively and efficiently. It ensures that schools are accountable, transparent, and effective in promoting learners’ achievement and success. In terms of section 23(1) of the South African Schools Act (SASA), the membership of a governing body…

Focus: Public sector sustainability reporting trajectory

In essence, sustainability reporting enables organisations to disclose the environmental, social and governance (ESG) impacts of their activities and the strategies thereon. Sustainability reporting is a relatively new topic in the public sector environment. The Global Reporting Initiative Standards (GRI Standards) describe the objective of sustainability reporting as ‘to provide transparency on how an organisation…

Focus: Public accountability is everyone’s responsibility

When President Cyril Ramaphosa declared and proclaimed the provision of energy as a national disaster in his State of the Nation address, he also requested that the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) monitor the expenditure of the funds allocated to this disaster. We welcome this call by government to provide real-time independent assurance on public…

Focus: Profile – Elza Gillman CA(SA) and Anneke Lombard CA(SA) – CAs(SA) making a difference in Congo

Imagine having an office in the heart of the equatorial rainforest, surrounded by endless trees and incredibly rich biodiversity, including thousands of western lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, forest elephants, buffaloes, leopards, birds and butterflies. For Elza Gillman CA(SA) and Anneke Lombard CA(SA), it’s all in an exciting day’s work. Elza Gillman and Anneke Lombard became involved…