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basics of financial reporting, and only 28% of municipalities submitted quality financial statements for auditing. Financial reporting has cost local government over R5-billion - this estimate is based only on the salary cost of finance units and the costs of financial reporting consultants, which latter group accounts for 18% of the cost. Another concerning finding is that only 2% of municipalities had a genuine need for consultants, to bridge the vacancy gap - the other municipalities sought and paid consultants while they have capable finance units. The issue of consultants becomes more alarming when noting that 64% of municipalities failed to provide records on consultants, appointed them too late, or did not manage the consultants' work efficiently to benefit the municipalities. Based on the findings, Maluleke said: "The use of consultants is also not necessarily effective."
POOR RECORD-KEEPING HAMPERS AUDITS The biggest frustration the AG encounters is the inability to audit some contracts because municipalities fail to provide documents and evidence to support procurement processes. "A lack of complete and proper records inevitably leads to unreliable financial reporting during the year and at year-end, which is likely to result in substantial harm to these municipalities and compromise their ability to deliver on their service mandate," she added. According to the report, because of poor performance and budgeting practices, and ineffective financial management, some municipalities received conditional grants to enable them to operate and deliver services to communities - but AGSA could not find auditable proof of how the money was used. When audit outcomes remain poor, Maluleke said, the result is poor service delivery. The AG also highlighted at least five municipalities which have been under administration for over two years. These municipalities, however, maintain a continuous streak of poor performance, and hence the AG has found the administration process to als ineffective. Maluleke advised leadership agains term solutions, as they seemingly drain more mog from already strained municipalities Consultants ||| =
from already strained municipalities. Consultants, additional monitoring and putting municipalities under administration are strategies that have not worked, she said, and leadership must rather set a tone and culture of good governance and accountability, improve financial and performance management and implement appropriate consequences for accountability failures. Source: https://www.corruptionwatch.org.za/local- government-on-the-brink-of-collapse/ Answer ALL the questions in this section.
QUESTION 3 (25 Marks) With reference to article, municipalities are still failing to master the basics of financial reporting, and only 28% of municipalities submitted quality financial statements for auditing. Examine the approaches to auditing to ensure the internal control