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In a flurry of activity leading up to the August 31st deadline, the Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District municipalities made their annual submissions of the Annual Financial Statements (AFS) to the Auditor General South Africa (AGSA). However, it’s a tale of mixed results, with four out of five municipalities successfully meeting the deadline, while Mamusa Local Municipality faces delays in its submission.

As the end of August approached, there was an air of anticipation as each municipality strived to meet the legislative deadline for AFS submission. The race against time was an important task, considering the legal obligations outlined in the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).

Four of the district’s municipalities achieved a commendable feat by successfully submitting their AFS to AGSA on time. The collective efforts of Kagisano Molopo Local Municipality, Greater Taung Local Municipality, Naledi Local Municipality, and Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality allowed them to meet the August 31st deadline.

A shadow was cast over this achievement as Mamusa Local Municipality struggled to make the deadline. Despite their best efforts, the municipality failed to submit the required AFS on time. This delay was noted with concern as it may have legal and financial repercussions for the municipality.

The Vryburg Independent Post (The VIP) Team reached out to Mamusa Local Municipality to gain insights into the reasons behind the delay in submitting their AFS. In a Media Inquiry to the municipality’s administration, The VIP Team inquired about the factors contributing to the late submission.

In response to The VIP Team’s inquiry, the Municipal Manager of Mamusa Local Municipality, Mr. RR Gincane, provided a detailed account of the challenges the municipality faced. Mr. Gincane explained that when he assumed office in November 2022, the AFS for the previous financial year (2021/22) had not been submitted. The lack of consequence management for the former Accounting Officer’s failure to submit the AFS was a significant issue.

“Additionally, there were staff vacancies in key positions within the Budget and Treasury Office, including the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Manager Budget and Reporting, and Accountant AFS. These vacancies hampered the efficient internal control environment.” Mr. Gincane accounted

The municipality also faced challenges related to records management and the lack of office space for safekeeping of documents. The constraints on records management created difficulties in recreating supporting documents for audit findings, which led to further delays.

“Despite the challenges faced by Mamusa Local Municipality, there is a commitment to improving the situation.” He said. The Municipal Manager emphasized that they had submitted the AFS for 2021/22 in February 2023, which represented an improvement compared to the previous year. The plan is now to ensure that AFS are submitted on time by the end of October 2023.

The challenges highlighted by the Municipal Manager underscore the importance of effective financial management and records keeping within municipalities. The road ahead for Mamusa Local Municipality involves addressing these challenges and ensuring timely submissions in the future.

-The VIP Team

-NW Treasury

-Mamusa Local Municipality