Overbearing and unnecessary audit requirements imposed on the NPO sector are preventing NPOs from delivering much needed aid to rural South Africa.

According to Chartered Institute for Business Accountants (CIBA) member and Business Accountant in Practice (SA) Mahlodi Phahlamohla the problem is especially acute in Limpopo. “Government is doing a good job of making available grants to help NGOs/NPOs deliver community services to the province.” However, “much of these funds are then spent on transport and administrative costs to obtain an audit.”

What makes it worse, says Phahlamohla, is that “There are alternatives to this waste of money, but the provincial government are not open to alternative suggestions.”

Phahlamohla provides the following example: “The NGOs/NPOs receiving grants from the Department of Health in Limpopo (Sekhukhune District) are only allowed to take their books for audit to Registered Auditors. However in our area we do not have Registered Auditors, so the NGOs/NPOs are forced to take their books to Polokwane or Pretoria for auditing services, which is about 200 to 300 kilometres a single trip.”

The District Office in Lebowakgomo is aware of this issue and explained to Phahlamohla that the Health Department only wants Registered Auditors to issue opinions on the financial statements of NGOs/NPOs. The problem is however “that the sector cannot afford the costs of paying the auditors. This is made worse by the fact that an average grant is between R100 000 and R450 000 and the audit fees takes up most of this”.

CIBA, as the representative body for accounting and finance professionals, therefore calls on the Department of Health and especially the HOD of Health in Polokwane to urgently address this issue. “There are many alternatives to the audit,” says Nicolaas van Wyk, CEO of CIBA. “South Africa’s Companies Act, 2008 provides for independent review and accounting officer reports to be issued by Business Accountants in Practice (SA). These reports are regarded by some as “audit-lite” and are both robust and affordable and can be performed by professionals other than auditors. There is really no reason for the Department of Health to still stick with audits when the whole world, including our companies act, has moved on to independent reviews.”

Controls and oversight are important, but it is equally important to ensure that grant money reaches the sector. Independent review and accounting officer reports are used internationally by the NGO/NPO sector and provide similar comfort than audits, but at much lower fees. In addition, adopting the review model will dramatically increase the number of professionals able to assist NGOs/NPOs. There are only about 2 500 practicing auditors in South Africa compared to 10 000 independent reviewers and CIBA members.

CIBA will be making a formal submission to the Department of Health to urgently address this issue so that a more affordable solution is found that will be acceptable to both the sector and the Department.