Clean Governance Milestone: Transport Department Earns First Clean Audit in 31 Years
Viable News Team 
In a landmark achievement for public sector accountability, the Department of Transport has been awarded a clean audit for the 2024/25 financial year, the first in 31 years. The Auditor-General South Africa (AGSA) confirmed the outcome, highlighting a turning point in the department’s commitment to sound financial governance.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa hailed the milestone as “a step in the right direction toward a fully accountable and ethical administration.”
What the Audit Means
A clean audit from the AGSA means that:
- The department’s annual financial statements (AFS) were submitted on time with no material misstatements.
- There were no significant deficiencies in internal controls, particularly around financial management.
- The department met all performance planning and reporting requirements, with no findings on the completeness of indicators.
This clean bill of health from the AGSA reflects a robust internal system and high standards of transparency, a rarity in a department that has long struggled with audit challenges.
Factors Behind the Achievement
According to Creecy and Hlengwa, the clean audit is the result of a coordinated and values-driven governance effort. They credited:
- A strong commitment to clean governance across all operational levels.
- Empowered assurance providers and proactive audit preparation.
- Timely response to audit recommendations through effective action plans.
- Collaborative internal functions from risk management and internal audit to oversight by the Audit Committee.
- Ongoing engagement with the AGSA and Parliament’s Transport Portfolio Committee, which reinforced the department’s accountability.
This audit win marks not only an administrative success but also a possible turning point for a department that oversees some of the country’s most complex infrastructure and transport systems.
“This clean audit reflects what can be achieved when leadership, discipline, and systems of accountability work together. It’s a vote of confidence in the direction we’re taking,” said Minister Creecy.
Deputy Minister Hlengwa added, “Good governance is not optional. It’s the foundation of service delivery and public trust.”
As the department turns the page on decades of audit setbacks, this moment may set a precedent for other departments to follow proving that clean audits in the public sector are not just possible but essential.
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