The Overberg District can proudly claim two of the Western Cape’s most financially-responsible local governments, with both Overstrand and Cape Agulhas municipalities receiving clean audits from the Auditor-General for the 2024-’25 financial year.
Overstrand Municipality achieved its remarkable 13th consecutive clean audit, while Cape Agulhas has secured its 12th clean audit in a row, a combined 25 years’ exemplary financial management and governance across the two coastal municipalities.
Overstrand’s Sustained Excellence
Executive Mayor Archie Klaas attributed Overstrand’s continued success to the dedication of Municipal Manager Dr Dean O’Neill, his directors, and the entire municipal staff.
“This clean audit shows that we are managing our resources responsibly and doing our best for our communities,” Klaas said.
O’Neill emphasised that the achievement reflected the municipality’s consistent approach to running operations efficiently and transparently.
“It’s a team effort. Every one of the staff and our councillors contributes to making sure the people of Overstrand are served responsibly.” He gave special recognition to the audit-support team working behind the scenes to coordinate and maintain audit-readiness.
Cape Agulhas Matches Excellence
Cape Agulhas Executive Mayor Councillor Raymond Ross expressed pride in his municipality’s 12th consecutive clean audit. “A clean audit means the Auditor-General found no material misstatements in our financial statements and confirmed full compliance with all relevant legislation,” he pointed out.
Ross highlighted that the result reflected the municipality’s “unwavering commitment to good governance, transparency and accountability” with its vision, “Together for Excellence”, serving as, more than just words, a tangible promise to residents.
What Clean Audits Mean
Clean audits represent the highest standard of municipal financial management, indicating that auditors found no material misstatements in financial records and confirmed full compliance with relevant legislation. For residents this translates into assurance that their tax contributions were being managed responsibly and transparently. The sustained success of both municipalities stands in stark contrast to many local governments that struggle with qualified or adverse audit opinions, often indicating financial mismanagement or governance failures.
Regional Success Story
The combined success of these two Overberg municipalities demonstrates exceptional regional governance, with 25 years of collective clean-audit achievements representing millions of rands in public funds managed with integrity and accountability. Both mayors acknowledged that their achievements resulted from collaborative effort extending beyond municipal staff to include councillors, residents and supporting families who contribute to maintaining these high standards. “This milestone proves what we can achieve when we work together as a community and as a team,” Ross noted, while Overstrand Municipality extended thanks to “all employees, families and residents for their role in maintaining these standards over the years.
“The consecutive clean audits position both municipalities as exemplars of good governance, providing their communities with confidence that public resources are being stewarded responsibly while maintaining the high service delivery standards residents expect. As both municipalities continue their commitment to excellence, residents can take pride in belonging to communities that demonstrate fiscal responsibility and transparent governance in an environment where such achievements remain rare.”
