​​​​​Theme: "Accountability for Public Resources: The Role of the Auditor-General"

The Auditor-General of South Africa, Mr Thembekile Kimi Makwetu, will be the speaker at the Annual Human Rights Lecture of the Faculty of Law at Stellenbosch University on 29 August 2019.

The Office of the Auditor-General of South Africa is one of the Chapter 9 state institutions responsible for supporting constitutional democracy in terms of section 181 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. It plays a critical role in safeguarding the health of South Africa's public finances. 

“Wasteful expenditure, financial mismanagement and corrupt​ion divert vital resources from the realisation of all the rights in the Bill of Rights, and undermine public confidence in the institutions of constitutional democracy," says Professor Sandra Liebenberg, HF Oppenheimer Chair in Human Rights Law, at Stellenbosch University's Law Faculty.

In his most recent report, the Auditor-General identifies an absence of accountability as the most significant cause of unsatisfactory local government audit outcomes. According to Liebenberg, the deterioration of municipal accountability for financial and performance management holds profound implications for local government – most notably its ability to deliver affordable services to all South Africans in a sustainable manner. “These services are part of the socio-economic rights that the State is constitutionally obliged to fulfil in terms of the Bill of Rights," Liebenberg says. 

Significant amendments to the Public Audit Act 25 of 2004 entered into force on 1 April 2019, which give more teeth to the Auditor-General's office. These amendments empower the Auditor-General to refer suspected material irregularities arising from an audit to a relevant public body for investigation, as well as to take appropriate binding remedial action to ensure that losses suffered by the State are recovered where possible. 

During the 2019 Annual Human Rights Lecture, Mr Makwetu will address the theme of “Accountability for Public Resources: The Role of the Auditor-General”. The lecture is hosted by Professor Sandra Liebenberg and Professor Nicola Smith, the Dean of the Faculty of Law, with the support of the law firm Webber Wentzel.

Mr Makwetu is a qualified chartered accountant and holds a Bachelor of Social Science degree from the University of Cape Town, as well as a Bachelor of Accounting Science Honours (Honours BCompt) degree from the University of Natal (now UKZN). Over the course of his career, Mr Makwetu has worked at Standard Bank, Nampak, Liberty and Metropolitan Life. He was the director in Deloitte’s forensic unit before his appointment as Deputy Auditor-General at the office of the Auditor-General of South Africa under Terence Mncedisi Nombembe, who held the position from 2006 to 2013. On 1 December 2013, Mr Makwetu was duly appointed as the new Auditor-General of South Africa for a seven-year term.

Liaise with Professor Sandra Liebenberg at 082 2023452 or via sliebenb@sun.ac.za for more information.