31 August 2022
Auditor-General (AG) Tsakani Maluleke issued her first report on the flood relief funds in KZN and the Eastern Cape. The audit focused on key response initiatives considering the risks of non-delivery and (continued) harm to flood victims as well as fraud and the mismanagement of funds. The report includes the results of the audit up to 15 July 2022 on the following initiatives:
- Provision of mobile classrooms and kitchens to severely damaged schools in KwaZuluNatal
- Provision of temporary residential units for KwaZulu-Natal residents who lost their homes in the floods
- Water tankering services in eThekwini Metro where damage to water infrastructure affected water supply
- Repairs to government properties
- Social relief efforts in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape
In her report the AG calls on all levels of government to urgently strengthen their internal controls and disaster management capabilities. Compromised control environments of auditees and weaknesses in intergovernmental coordination undermine delivery on even the best disaster response plans – and will continue to do so if not addressed.
She also reported that government’s response to the devastating floods that hit KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape in April 2022 was too slow.
“Government was further not adequately prepared for a disaster. For example, documented processes were not always in place (such as for the supply of water tankering services) to guide and direct efforts to enable service delivery. Some challenges experienced during implementation (such as the unavailability of land for temporary residential units) also remain unresolved, resulting in current and future delivery failures,” reports the AG.
You can access the press release on the Auditor General’s website here.
You can read the First Special Report in full here.
