At the 2019 Annual Human Rights Lecture hosted by the Stellenbosch University (SU) Faculty of Law, the Auditor-General of South Africa, Mr Thebekile Kimi Makwetu, gave his views on public accountability.
The lecture — presented by HF Oppenheimer Chair in Human Rights Law, Professor Sandra Liebenberg, and Vice Dean of the SU Faculty of Law, Professor Richard Stevens — focused on constitutional protections of public resources and the role of the Auditor-General.
Attending the lecture were several SU deans and departmental heads, officials from the Stellenbosch Local Municipality, as well as former Public Protector, Professor Thuli Madonsela.
“The office of the Auditor-General is the constitutional guardian of public resources in South Africa,” Liebenberg said while she introduced Makwetu.
Professor Sandra Liebenberg (left) and Thebekile Makwetu (right). PHOTO: Aaliyah Davids
Upon taking the stage, Auditor-General Makwetu was quick to point out that it was all of the so-called ‘Chapter Nine Institutions’ which were responsible for holding the public sector accountable.
“We want the Chapter Nine Institutions to become an invincible fortress for us and for those that come after us, and to our democracy,” said Makwetu, pointing out his belief that public accountability has been in a state of erosion in recent years.
“An audit office promotes efficiency, accountability, effectiveness and transparency of public administration,” Makwetu says.
However, according to him, systems of “financial management and performance management” have been “generally disrespected” at a local and national level in South Africa. He points out that the law has been ignored “because people are comfortable that there are no consequences for failing to adhere to [it].”
“Many people in charge of resources do not possess the necessary skills and training to see over resources,” Makwetu points out.
Thebekile Makwetu (right) and Professor Richard Stevens (left). PHOTO: Aaliyah Davids
Currently, only 11 percent of municipalities are able to demonstrate that public funds are being used as prescribed, according to the audit office.
This has a considerable impact. According to Makwetu, “poor auditing means poor service delivery and government failure, which inevitably means a knock to the South African government and foreign investment.”
Makwetu believes that there is a way forward for both the office of the Auditor-General and the other Chapter Nine and Ten Institutions.
“I think we need to start thinking about the audit institution as well as the institutions that are critical in our democracy, that need to be protected and defended in all ways that are possible,” he says.
When asked by an audience member whether this was true in the case of the State of Capture (the 2016 Report from the Public Protector), Makwetu answered simply that the role of the Auditor-General is to “recover what was agreed upon in the courts,” and that the office is “responsible to chase the money through accounting.”