Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will deliver a keynote address at the Southern African Institute of Government Auditors (SAIGA) 2nd Annual Conference at the Protea Hotel Fire & Ice Menlyn in Pretoria on 14-15 September 2022.
Guided by the Conference theme “Step up to the Mark and Put Citizens First”, Dlamini-Zuma will highlight the responsibility of governance defenders. These include good administration, helping departments and other state entities to achieve clean audit outcomes that enhance smooth service delivery and governance.
The two-day conference will feature Dlamini-Zuma alongside former Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, who will be the main speaker at the scheduled 2022 Gala Dinner, as well as deputy Auditor-General Vonani Chauke, among other pre-eminent speakers
Mogoeng is renowned for speaking up on social concerns, including corruption, bad leadership, and maladministration.
“Our theme at the inaugural SAIGA conference last year was ‘Citizens Come First. But for citizens to come first, there needs to be ‘Stepping up to the Mark’,” says SAIGA Chiefs Executive Officer Russel Morena.
“Professionals in government institutions should lead the march in that direction. In the instance of the SAIGA conference, the emphasis and focus are on accountants and audit personnel.”
Additionally, Morena issues a call: “Therefore, we are saying we need to roll up the sleeves and put shoulders to the wheel. Such is necessary for our work to become the kind that contributes significantly to enabling service delivery, particularly the kind that places citizens in the number one position.”
Other key topics that will form part of thoughtful discussions include “Improving Audit Outcomes”, which will be tackled by Phuti Phukubje, Edmond Shoko, Pranisha Rama and Jeanine Poggiolini. They will discuss possible solutions to deal with poor financial and performance management within the provincial government.
“In our engagement with our panelists and speakers, we have been saying it is critical that as we share perspectives and also drive discussions towards solutions. To that end, we will summarise any recommendations and make them widely available,” Morena adds.
Among the other headline speakers at the eagerly awaited summit will be, Prof Cameron Modisane and Dr Nandi Madiba and tax ombudsman Judge Bernard Ngoepe, who will share his ideas on how the country can overcome some of its major obstacles on a path to prosperity and a better life for all citizens.
The conference will conclude with an award ceremony to recognise excellence in public sector academic research, government accounting and auditing.