Abstract:
This article cannot discuss in detail the many shortcomings that makes the Draft
Public Audit Bill (Version: June 2003) the “weakest link in South Africa’s public
accountability chain”. Four of the most crucial flaws of the Draft Bill are highlighted in
this article.
Flaw One:
Allowing the public sector auditor to provide both audit and other services to the
same institutions
Flaw Two:
Overlooking the Registered Government Auditor profession and abetting the private
sector audit industry
Flaw Three:
Making the audit of the performance information, as required by the PFMA, optional
Flaw Four:
Introducing the Auditor-General as player, coach, referee, time keeper, selector,
administrator, and writer and interpreter of the rules of the game
