Improved Limpopo Provincial Government Audit Outcomes: A Step Towards Accountability and Public Confidence

Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba.

By Dr Che Selane

The Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) has released the latest audit outcomes for the Limpopo Provincial Government, and for the first time in many years, the province has recorded remarkable improvements.

This milestone marks a turning point in Limpopo’s governance journey, long overshadowed by concerns of maladministration, irregular expenditure, and poor service delivery. The positive shift signals a deliberate effort by the provincial leadership to entrench accountability, strengthen financial controls, and restore public confidence.

Historically, Limpopo has been associated with negative audit outcomes, with departments facing disclaimers and qualified reports due to weak internal controls and financial mismanagement. These audit findings often reinforced a narrative of systemic governance failure. However, the most recent outcomes tell a different story of one progress, reform, and a growing maturity in institutional governance.

For the 2024/25 financial year, several key departments have achieved clean audits with no findings. These include: Office of the Premier, Department of Transport, Provincial Treasury, and Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) .The remaining provincial departments all received unqualified audit opinions with emphasis of matter, reflecting further improvements in compliance and governance, even though some areas still require attention.

The audit outcomes are more than financial compliance reports. They are indicators of how effectively public resources are managed. The clean audits recorded by key departments demonstrate that resources are being properly accounted for, internal controls are functioning, and leadership accountability is improving.

On the other hands, the unqualified audit outcomes with emphasis highlight progress, but also remind government that more work is required to resolve recurring challenges such as irregular expenditure, consequence management, and supply chain compliance.

Several factors have contributed to the province’s improved audit outcomes, marking a decisive shift in Limpopo’s governance landscape. Firstly, stronger leadership commitment has been central to this progress.

The Premier, Members of the Executive Council (MECs), and senior officials have embraced accountability and consequence management as guiding principles of governance, setting a tone of responsibility from the top.

Secondly, the implementation of audit action plans has ensured that departments actively responded to findings by the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA), correcting weaknesses identified in previous years and addressing systemic flaws.

In addition, capacity building and skills development have played a vital role, with targeted investment in financial management training and the adoption of modern accounting systems significantly improving compliance and efficiency.

Lastly, enhanced oversight mechanisms have ensured stricter monitoring of expenditure and performance, with the Provincial Treasury and Legislature committees exercising greater vigilance in holding departments accountable. Together, these measures have not only led to improved audit outcomes but also reinforced the culture of transparency and sound financial management within the provincial government.

For ordinary citizens, improved audit outcomes represent more than technical compliance. They offer hope for better service delivery. Clean audits mean that fewer public funds are lost to irregularities and corruption, ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most: in building schools, equipping hospitals, repairing roads, and supporting community development.

These improvements also foster investor confidence in the province, creating fertile ground for economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development.

While progress is commendable, Limpopo is not without challenges. Some departments continue to grapple with irregular expenditure, weak consequence management, and capacity gaps. Importantly, financial improvements must translate into visible improvements in service delivery for citizens to feel the impact.

To consolidate these achievements and avoid regression, the Limpopo Provincial Government must take deliberate steps to sustain and deepen its progress.

Strengthening consequence management is essential to ensure that instances of wrongdoing do not go unpunished, thereby reinforcing a culture of accountability.

At the same time, continued investment in building the capacity of departments, particularly in financial management and compliance, will be critical to maintaining high standards of governance.

However, improved audit outcomes must not remain an end in themselves; they must be translated into tangible service delivery outcomes that directly benefit citizens through better schools, hospitals, roads, and economic opportunities. Above all, consistent political will and ethical leadership are needed to drive reforms forward, protect the gains achieved, and prevent a slide back into past patterns of maladministration.

By doing so, Limpopo can entrench a governance system that not only balances the books but also transforms lives.

The improved audit outcomes in Limpopo represent more than a statistical achievement. They reflect progress towards a culture of accountability, transparency, and responsible governance led by Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba.

For a province long associated with governance challenges, this development signals that institutions are beginning to function as intended. The task now is clear: to build on this foundation, sustain the culture of clean governance, and ensure that every rand spent delivers real and measurable benefits for the people of Limpopo. In doing so, the province can truly claim a victory not only in governance, but in restoring trust, promoting development, and securing a better future for all.

Dr Che Selane is a legal scholar, former ANCYL Provincial Secretary, and Member of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature. He writes in his personal capacity.