The focus point of the audit expectation gap in the Republic of South Africa

Abstract

The audit expectation gap has been the subject of many research projects in overseas countries. Recommendations and strategies for narrowing the gap in these countries have been based on empirical data. In the Republic of South Africa, however, no empirical data has so far been gathered. This paper presents the finding of an empirical investigation in South Africa in which perceptions and opinions of financially knowledgeable persons regarding the audit function were compared to those of auditors. The development of the phenomenon, contributing factors, as well as methods of narrowing the gap are described as a background against which the expectation gap should be seen.