eThekwini Municipality Records Significant Decline in Audit Findings as Governance Reforms Take Root

eThekwini audit findings drop from 20 to 13 in the 2024/25 financial year. Discover how Durban's municipality is improving governance and financial oversight.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 19, 2026, 5:48 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from IOL

A Positive Shift in Municipal Accountability

The eThekwini Municipality is demonstrating a renewed commitment to transparent governance following the latest report from the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC). For the 2024/25 financial year, external audit findings from the Auditor-General decreased by 35 percent, falling from 20 findings in the previous period to just 13. Councillor Conrad Dlamini, Deputy Chairperson of MPAC, noted that this trend reflects a more robust control environment and an organizational shift toward regulatory compliance and sound financial administration.

Implementing Corrective Measures and Leadership Oversight

The improvement is largely attributed to the work of the eThekwini Municipality’s Audit Risk and Advisory Services (EMARAS), which has focused on establishing clearer lines of responsibility within city departments. According to municipal reports, management has become significantly more responsive to both internal and external audit recommendations. Enhanced monitoring of internal controls has allowed the city to identify and mitigate risks more effectively, laying what Dlamini calls a "strong foundation" for improved service delivery and financial stability.

Addressing Legacy Financial Challenges

Despite the progress, the city continues to grapple with unauthorized, irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditure (UIFW). In line with the Auditor-General’s recommendations to deal with these matters decisively, MPAC has moved to support the write-off of specific historical amounts. These relate to various directorates, including Parks and Recreation, Disaster Management, and Infrastructure Management. While these write-offs are intended to clean up the municipal books, they remain subject to final approval by the full city council.