Link: http://www.pmg.org.za/node/47360
The Office of the Auditor-General of SA (AGSA) took the Committee through the audit opinion for the Department and its four entities, namely, SAWS, South African National Parks (SANParks), the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority for the 2013/14 financial year. Thereafter the reasons for findings were discussed.
South African National Parks: UNQUALIFIED WITH FINDINGS. This was a regression from the previous financial year where the entity received an unqualified audit outcome with no findings. This was due to matters relating to pre-determined objectives and compliance with laws and regulations.
Mr B Hadebe (DA) questioned the quality of submitted financial statements by the South African National Parks (SANParks) given that the entity received an unqualified opinion with findings.
Mr Omar replied that the disclosure by SANParks was inadequate and not in accordance with General Recognised Accounting Practices (GRAP).
Mr Hadebe said that, in other words, the information supplied to the AG by SANParks was inaccurate and not useful.
Mr Omar said it was important that all disclosure was in absolute accordance with the financial statements and GRAP.
The Chairperson said the long and short of the matter was that the statements provided by SANParks did not make auditing sense.
Mr Hadebe was trying to find out if this was because of a lack of skill in the entity.
The Chairperson replied that the AG did say certain positions were not filled and this gave rise to misstatements and material findings. The CFO and CEO were among the positions that were not filled.
Mr Omar responded that, in terms of the CFO post, last year, SANParks had material misstatements on the annual financial statements which meant there was non-compliance but this year there was none on the financial statements.
