CAPE TOWN - The City of Cape Town’s loss of its clean audit status for the first time during the 2024/2025 financial year featured prominently during an election debate between DA Mayoral Candidate Geordin Hill-Lewis and ANC representative Jeremia Thuynsma.
Hill-Lewis and Thuynsma offered different views of the city’s financial management and delivery record.
The Auditor-General’s latest report, which identified non-compliance in the procurement and tender evaluation process, was raised during the debate on Tuesday.
Thuynsma took the opportunity to question whether the city was meeting its commitment to residents.
He argued that budget adjustments result in projects promised to residents being abandoned.
He said residents need to see results rather than rely on financial reports.
“Our communities are suffering because of that kind of budgeting. You are budgeting to fail because you know for a fact that you can't deliver despite all the staff that is there. A clean audit is about bean counting, but the community needs the actual delivery that you have promised, not bean-counting.”
Hill-Lewis defends Cape Town's audit record and the city’s procurement processes.
“This is the one city in the country where people know that when they pay their rates and service charges at the end of the month, their money is being spent on the things it is intended for. It is being spent honestly and with integrity.”