| Message from the CEO - Sometimes, no one wins |
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The case between the RAF and the AGSA (with the ASB as a second respondent) is not new news. Without going into all the details of the case, at the heart of the case was the change in the RAF’s accounting policy to use IPSAS 42 on Social Benefits – which led to a reduction of their liabilities by some R300 billion - and the Auditor-General’s disclaimed audit opinion that resulted.
The Gauteng High Court issued their judgement on 19 April dismissing the RAF’s application. While this may seem like a victory for the AGSA, no one wins when accounting matters are referred to the Courts. The judgement clearly indicates that the Court would not involve itself in matters of accounting. They state: “This case impacts on the professional field of accounting and more particularly the auditing profession. This Court must at this stage disavow any expertise in the accounting field and should primarily direct itself to the legal questions raised”. Accounting and auditing matters should be resolved by the profession, and this case is no different.
The real loser in all of this is the taxpayer. We all know the pressure on the fiscus and that every Rand counts. There is no doubt that the millions spent by the three parties on lawyers could have provided housing, education, healthcare and building a better South Africa.
While we enjoy the benefit of a Constitutional democracy and a robust judicial system, this should not be misused, and nor should the scarce resources we receive as government entities. |
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