Western Cape Achieves 100% Unqualified Audit Outcomes, Best in Five Years

Western Cape Government (WCG) announced an unprecedented achievement in South Africa's financial audit history, with all 14 provincial Departments and 11 entities scoring unqualified audits for the 2022/23 fiscal year. Premier Alan Winde and Finance and Economic Opportunities Minister Mireille Wenger reported this accomplishment today, marking the finest audit outcomes in the past five years.

Premier Winde highlighted the vital role of clean governance in maximizing service delivery. These results are a tangible indicator of the WCG's commitment to transparent, effective governance practices. Minister Wenger echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the audit outcomes' role in the province's financial integrity. Regular, transparent fund use assures residents and prospective partners of WCG's reliability, building trust and fostering successful partnerships.

The Auditor-General classifies audit outcomes into varying degrees: unqualified, qualified, adverse, and disclaimer. The desired outcome is an unqualified audit without findings, demonstrating clean, responsible governance.

Minister Wenger acknowledged that such results are quite rare in South Africa, yet served as an affirmation that diligence and focus on financial systems, accountability, and transparency could lead to unparalleled success. Recent provincial data reflecting improvements in safety, wellbeing, and job creation support the link between ethical governance and enhanced service delivery.

Wenger further emphasized the strong message that such a dedicated governance plan sends to investors and business partners, creating a safer business environment conducive to greater investment and enterprise growth. The WCG acknowledges this as an integral part of their action plan, aimed at spurring economic growth and job creation in the province.

Thanking personnel across departments and entities, Minister Wenger applauded their devotion to implementing sound financial practices that led to these extraordinary results. The WCG strives to keep building on its strong track record of good governance and fairness, ensuring the service its residents deserve.