In the heart of South Africa’s ongoing struggle with poor public fund management, a crisis that has cast a shadow over the nation for years, emerges a leader – Kagiso Lerutla.
At the core of South Africa’s predicament lies the pervasive spectre of corruption, estimated to siphon off billions of dollars annually from the nation’s coffers. What’s particularly unsettling is that many of the culprits perpetrating these illicit activities are none other than public officials, leveraging their positions of trust to further their own nests at the public’s expense.
Moreover, the lack of accountability has been a critical driver of South Africa’s public fund mismanagement. Oversight of public funds is often scant, and those tasked with their stewardship routinely evade the repercussions of their actions.
Countless South Africans endure deprivation of essential amenities such as clean water, electricity, and healthcare, primarily due to insufficient funding—a direct consequence of corruption and fund mismanagement.
Yet, amid these trials, Mr Kagiso Lerutla, the Group Chief Financial Officer of the City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa, seeks to make a difference
Entrusted with the oversight of an annual budget exceeding R50 billion, Lerutla has rekindled the quest for ethical leadership within local government.
His unwavering stand against fraud and corruption calls upon local governments across South Africa to prioritise ethics and integrity.
By embracing Lerutla’s principled approach, these institutions can contribute to building a sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous society while simultaneously restoring public trust in the very foundations of governance.
Under his stewardship, Ekurhuleni has achieved a remarkable milestone – becoming the only Metro in Gauteng to obtain a clean audit for the 2021/2022 Financial Year, marking a third consecutive clean audit.
The Auditor General of South Africa declared that the city’s financial statements were free from material errors and found no significant issues with performance information and compliance with legislation.
“This is a significant achievement for the city,” Lerutla declared at the time. However, he also emphasized that there was no room for complacency; his determination was unwavering in ensuring the city’s continued pattern of success.
According to Lerutla, the clean audit outcome not only confirms the city’s commitment to clean financial governance but also provides its citizens with assurance that the systems established to enhance their lives are being utilised in alignment with all applicable regulations, effectively delivering on their mandate.
