Auditor-general Tsakani Maluleke has expressed concern over 'regressions' in the audit outcomes of South Africa's eight metropolitan municipalities, highlighting issues related to weak financial discipline and failures in service delivery. These findings indicate a decline in the management and accountability of public resources within these urban areas.

Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke has reported concerning declines in the financial health and service delivery of South Africa's eight largest municipalities, highlighting the need for immediate action to address these issues.

The Auditor-General has reported that the financial situation in Johannesburg requires immediate attention, noting a general regression in audit outcomes among metropolitan areas.

According to a report by the Auditor-General of South Africa, only 39 municipalities received clean audits. Sharrone Adams, head of audit, highlighted issues at the metro level, stating that officials often do not behave ethically, experience conflicts of interest, and fail to act in the best interest of their institutions.

The Auditor-General has released a report indicating poor financial management in municipalities, marking the first issuance of a certificate of debt to recover financial losses from a municipal accounting officer. Additionally, 76 municipal officials have been referred for investigation due to these financial discrepancies, highlighting ongoing issues in municipal governance, according to Moneyweb.

According to Sowetan, South Africa's major cities are struggling with financial management, as highlighted by auditor-general Tsakani Maluleke. She warns that deteriorating governance, failing service delivery, and significant losses due to irregular expenditure pose a threat to the country's sustainability.