The prestigious Auditor General Awards were held in Cape Town on Monday evening 31 March. George was only one of nine municipalities in the Western Cape to receive a clean audit for the 2012/13 financial year.
Executive Mayor Charles Standers said, "This highlights the single-minded commitment of the George Municipality's leadership, to lead and set the right tone and that it has been a priority in George to ensure that the internal controls and systems are in place and nothing less than a clean administration will be accepted."
Finance Councillor Leon van Wyk said he is positive that the consistent achievement of a clean audit will enable George to focus on longer-term financial sustainability. "This mindset will drive the ongoing maintenance of infrastructure; a major and ongoing challenge for all local authorities."
Municipal Manager Trevor Botha thanked the officials in the municipality for their effort and teamwork. "We are thankful to all who contribute to the efficient functioning of the municipality and we are hopeful that this trend of dedication and commitment towards maintaining our clean audit status will persist and continuously encourage us to perform even better."
Keith Jordaan, the chief financial officer, explained that the role of the accounting officer of a municipality is to prepare and present the financial statements as determined by legislation.
"The accounting officer must also ensure that proper internal controls are in place to enable the preparation of statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error."
Leon van Wyk, the portfolio councillor for finance (left), holding the 2012/13 Certificate of Achievement, Keith Jordaan, the chief financial officer for George Municipality and Iona Kritzinger, the portfolio councillor for community services and member of the finance committee look on as Mayor Charles Standers hands the official Clean Audit Trophy 2012/13 to Municipal Manager Trevor Botha.
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