Page 233 - Department of Social Development Annual Report 2021

PART E: FINANCIAL INFORMATION

REPORT OF THE AUDITOR-GENERAL TO PARLIAMENT ON

VOTE NO. 19: DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Report on the audit of the annual performance report Other matters 27. The other information I obtained prior to the date of 32. At the request of the president, a proactive interim
Introduction and scope 19. I draw attention to the matters below. this auditor’s report is the draft annual report, and the audit was performed on the covid-19 pandemic relief
14. In accordance with the Public Audit Act 25 of 2004 final annual report is expected to be made available response in the social development portfolio. The
(PAA) and the general notice issued in terms thereof, I Achievement of planned targets to me after 31 August 2021. audit covered the period 1 May 2020 to 31 October
have a responsibility to report on the usefulness and 20. Refer to the annual performance report on pages 37 to 28. If, based on the work I have performed on the other 2020. The first special report on the financial manage-
reliability of the reported performance information 107 for information on the achievement of planned information that I obtained prior to the date of this ment of government’s covid-19 initiatives was issued
against predetermined objectives for selected targets for the year and management’s explanations auditor’s report, I conclude that there is a material on 2 September 2020 and the second one was issued
programmes presented in the annual performance provided for the under-/ overachievement of targets. misstatement in this other information, I am required on 9 December 2020.
report. I performed procedures to identify material to report that fact. I have nothing to report in this 33. An independent consultant was investigating allega-
findings but not to gather evidence to express assur- Adjustment of material misstatements regard. tions of fraudulent expenditure payments relating to
ance. 21. I identified material misstatements in the annual 29. When I do receive and read the final annual report, if social relief of distress grants (SRD) distributed during
15. My procedures address the usefulness and reliability performance report submitted for auditing. These I conclude that there is a material misstatement the 2017-18 financial year. At the time of this report,
of the reported performance information, which must material misstatements were in the reported perfor- therein, I am required to communicate the matter to the investigation was in the reporting phase.
be based on the department’s approved performance mance information of programme 4: welfare services those charged with governance and request that the
planning documents. I have not evaluated the policy development and implementation support. As other information be corrected. If the other informa-
completeness and appropriateness of the perfor- management subsequently corrected the misstate- tion is not corrected, I may have to retract this
mance indicators included in the planning documents. ments, I did not raise any material findings on the auditor’s report and re-issue an amended report as
My procedures do not examine whether the actions usefulness and reliability of the reported performance appropriate. However, if it is corrected this will not be
taken by the department enabled service delivery. My information. necessary.
procedures do not extend to any disclosures or asser- Pretoria
tions relating to the extent of achievements in the Report on the audit of compliance with legislation Internal control deficiencies 31 August 2021
current year or planned performance strategies and Introduction and scope 30. I considered internal control relevant to my audit of
information in respect of future periods that may be 22. In accordance with the PAA and the general notice the financial statements, reported performance
included as part of the reported performance informa- issued in terms thereof, I have a responsibility to information and compliance with applicable legisla-
tion. Accordingly, my findings do not extend to these report material findings on the department’s compli- tion; however, my objective was not to express any
matters. ance with specific matters in key legislation. I form of assurance on it. I did not identify any signifi-
16. I evaluated the usefulness and reliability of the performed procedures to identify findings but not to cant deficiencies in internal control.
reported performance information in accordance with gather evidence to express assurance.
the criteria developed from the performance manage- 23. I did not identify any material findings on compliance Other reports
ment and reporting framework, as defined in the with the specific matters in key legislation set out in 31. I draw attention to the following engagements
general notice, for the following selected programme the general notice issued in ter ms of the PAA. conducted by various parties which had, or could
presented in the department’s annual performance have, an impact on the matters reported in the depart-
report for the year ended 31 March 2021: Other information ment’s financial statements, reported performance
24. The accounting officer is responsible for the other information, compliance with applicable legislation
information. The other information comprises the and other related matters. These reports did not form
Pages in the information included in the annual report. The other
annual part of my opinion on the financial statements or my
Programmes information does not include the financial statements, findings on the reported performance information or
performance report
the auditor’s report and those selected programmes compliance with legislation.
Programme 4 – welfare presented in the annual performance report that have
services policy development 71 to 89 been specifically reported in this auditor’s report.
and implementation support 25. My opinion on the financial statements and findings
on the reported performance information and compli-
ance with legislation do not cover the other informa-
17. I performed procedures to determine whether the tion and I do not express an audit opinion or any form
reported performance information was properly of assurance conclusion on it.
presented and whether performance was consistent 26. In connection with my audit, my responsibility is to
with the approved performance planning documents. read the other information and, in doing so, consider
I performed further procedures to determine whether whether the other information is materially inconsis-
the indicators and related targets were measurable tent with the financial statements and the selected
and relevant, and assessed the reliability of the programmes presented in the annual performance
reported performance information to determine report, or my knowledge obtained in the audit, or
whether it was valid, accurate and complete.
18. I did not identify any material findings on the useful- otherwise appears to be materially misstated.
ness and reliability of the reported performance
information for this programme.

233 DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21