SPEAKER MOTSUMI RECEIVES AGSA BRIEFING ON NORTH WEST PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATION’S 2025/26 PFMA AUDIT OUTCOMES

MAHIKENG – The Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature, Hon. Ntsetsao Viola Motsumi, hosted the Auditor-General South Africa (AGSA) to receive a brief on the 2025/26 Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) audit outcome of the North West.

The briefing focused on financial management, accountability, service delivery, and the status of material irregularities across Provincial government Departments and public entities.
Mr Mthokozisi Sibisi, the Business Unit Leader for AGSA in the North West Province, delivered a detailed presentation to the Speaker, who was joined by the Deputy Speaker of the Legislature, Hon Collen Maine, the Premier of the North West Province, Hon. Lazarus Mokgosi, and the MEC responsible for Provincial Treasury, Hon. Keneetswe Mosenogi.

While the report highlighted notable audit improvements in some areas, the it also underscored some regress in audit outcomes by other Departments and some persistent systemic challenges that stall impactful service delivery. “The North West Province has made some progress, including the elimination of disclaimed audits, improvements at certain entities, financial recoveries, and better performance in some sectors,” said Mr Sibisi.

“However, these gains are not yet broad or sustainable enough. The biggest concern remains the gap between plans, budgets, and actual service delivery. Significant public funds continue to be spent, while some infrastructure projects face prolonged delays, audit findings recur, and communities do not always receive the services they deserve”, Mr Sibisi said, emphasizing the need for a shift in government culture for governance to move past administrative boxes.

“The focus must now move beyond compliance for compliance’s sake. What matters is whether public money is translating into completed infrastructure, functioning hospitals and schools, better services, and meaningful improvements in the lives of communities. We need stronger accountability, better financial management, effective consequence management, and decisive action where commitments are not implemented. Every rand spent must deliver value,” Mr Sibisi added.

Responding, Speaker Motsumi said that the Legislature would rigorously expand its constitutional mandate to hold the Executive accountable and safeguard public funds.
“The Legislature will continue to work closely with the Provincial Government to strengthen oversight and monitoring,” Speaker Motsumi stated.

“It is vital that we identify and close operational gaps, particularly during disasters when budgets are redirected or utilized for unplanned activities without proper processes. These specific areas heavily contribute to qualified audit outcomes and scope limitations”, she added. Speaker Motsumi noted that departments are already gearing up for the next audit cycle, acknowledging the supportive interventions implemented by the Office of the Premier and the Provincial Treasury to curb prior non-compliance.

“We are reaffirming the Legislature’s commitment to strengthening oversight and monitoring of the Executive through enhanced public participation and community engagement. Our focus is ensuring that government programmes translate into actual service delivery and that communities receive the services they are legally entitled to”, she said.
The Legislature also welcomed the AGSA’s recommendation for the Portfolio Committee responsible for Cooperative Governance to strengthen its oversight of consolidated reports on the performance of Municipalities in the Province that are tabled to the Legislature in terms of Section 47 of the Municipal Systems Act.

Speaker Motsumi confirmed that the Legislature is fully committed to implementing this recommendation and reinforcing municipal oversight systems to drive local government accountability.

ENDS

Issued by the North West Provincial Legislature’s Communications Unit on behalf of the Office of the Speaker – Hon. Viola Ntsetsao Motsumi.
For more information, contact Mr Vuyo Mantshule on +27 73 217 7335 or Ms Namhla Luhabe on +27 79 527 0628.