Only Cape Town has a clean audit. How do we start fixing South Africa's failing metros?
Material irregularities and suspected fraud resulted in municipal losses of over R7 billion for 2022/2023, revealed Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke.
EThekwini Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda (centre) held a briefing on interventions that the municipality was implementing to improve water supply in Durban. Picture: @eThekwiniM/X
Dr Guy Lamb of the Department of Political Science at Stellenbosch University joins Africa Melane.
Listen below.
For the second year in a row, the City of Cape Town is the only metro in the country to have received a clean audit.
The Auditor-General's 2022/23 audit outcomes report made for grim reading when presented to Parliament on Tuesday.
The results paint a picture of the country's 257 municipalities - with problems of material irregularities, financial irregularities and wasteful expenditure.
Lamb says the situation can only be improved by local governments getting the basics right.
"You've got to build trust with local residents by making sure roads are fixed, that there is adequate water supply, access to electricity. That's the first aspect."
- Dr Guy Lamb, Department of Political Science - Stellenbosch University
The second aspect, says Lamb, is ensuring procurement systems are in place.
"Reports suggest that issues are around wasteful expenditure, which means that money that should have gone into developing and maintaining certain areas and services is not going there."
- Dr Guy Lamb, Department of Political Science - Stellenbosch University
Lamb says another crucial element is hiring the right people.
"We've got situations where people are unqualified to do those jobs, and it effects the way in which local government is run."
- Dr Guy Lamb, Department of Political Science - Stellenbosch University
ALSO READ: No payment, no services - SALGA's solution to unpaid debt
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.