The Minister for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr Sicelo Shiceka, recently accorded the title of Operation Clean Audit Ambassador to Musina Municipality, in recognition of the municipality’s achieving an unqualified audit outcome for the 2007/2008 financial year.

In municipal and financial language, an unqualified audit means that the institution is spending their finances wisely and responsibly, leading to effectiveness in financial viability and financial management key performance areas.

The border town municipality has been receiving unqualified audit reports for the past eight years. Last year, Musina also scooped two prestigious awards during the Limpopo Provincial Vuna Awards ceremony held at Polokwane. The municipality was announced the overall winner among all the 25 local municipalities in Limpopo (Category B of the awards) and they also took the lead in the financial viability and financial management key performance area.

Musina Local Municipality then represented Limpopo Province in the two categories at the National Vuna Awards and came out in position three. Last year, state president Jacob Zuma presented the ZK Matthews Award to Musina Municipality for being the best performing ANC-led municipality countrywide.

The obviously jubilant mayor, Caroline Mahasela, said: “We are gearing to new heights, whatever circumstances we come across. However, winning and being counted amongst the best also bring a very serious challenge - that of maintaining that top position. Due to our sound and effective financial management, we have effectively provided our communities with houses, clean water, sanitation, electricity and other basic needs.”

Mahasela said one of the weapons for the success of Musina Local Municipality is effective time management. “We are able to set our defined goals clearly. This has given us clear focus and direction to plan and facilitate the establishment of our priorities as defined by our integrated development plan (IDP). The IDP remains a cornerstone of every developmental municipality like us. We continue to set trends in ensuring meaningful participation of our communities and stakeholders in the planning and implementation of our developmental programmes as mandated by the Local Government Municipal Systems Act of 2000. By creating an effective action plan, we easily provide the blueprint or map which leads us towards the culmination of our dreams.”

She concluded: “An effective financial management system is the foundation of sound financial management. A people-friendly budget is a critical tool for effective governance and proper planning. With our team of dedicated staff and supportive community stakeholders, our people know that we are always there to serve their needs.”