/ 20 February 2015

Accounting skills shortage hampers public sector

Thapelo Matlala
Thapelo Matlala

While the most recent audit outcomes show some improvement, much more has to be done to stabilise Limpopo’s municipalities, said Thapelo Matlala, South African Local Government Association Provincial Executive Officer: Limpopo.

Matlala said strong political leadership and financial management were crucial for improving the situation, and that indecisive leadership and a lack of high-end skills were a challenge. “Municipal leaders must be decisive in ensuring that wrongdoing and mismanagement does not occur, but the environment must also enable decisive leadership.”

He pointed to financial management skills as a serious challenge in many areas. “We have had cases where municipal managers have been suspended for three years. Some areas have had no chief financial officer for years. Action must be taken swiftly to address these issues. Vacancies must be filled as quickly as possible to ensure sound audits and financial management,” he said. 

Delegates raised their concerns about the problem of high-end accounting and financial management skills, noting that budget constraints made positions in small municipal offices unattractive for candidates, who could seek far better remuneration in the private sector, and in major cities.