Do ministers matter for audit performance?

3 February 2023 -

Reports of corruption and mismanagement have scarred the South African Government’s reputation at home and abroad.

What can audit findings tell us about the influence that ministers have on the financial performance of their departments? And what does this say about the leadership required for improving the stewardship of public funds in future?

The Wits School of Governance (WSG) and ODI hosted a panel discussion which drew on new research conducted for ODI, to explore how leaders influence the financial management of their departments – for better or worse. 

Mr Thamsanqa Zikode (Office of the Auditor General of SA), Professor Pundy Pillay (WSG), Associate Professor Joachim Wehner (London School of Economics), reflected on the implications for public sector governance and service delivery.

Full report

SA Presentation Daniel Berliner, Martin Haus and Joachim Wehner

To watch the panel discussion, click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0enE-9QLHEI&t=2374s