Public sector leaders, finance professionals and governance experts have gathered in Durban for the 97th Annual Chartered Institute of Government Finance Audit and Risk Officers (CIGFARO) Conference, which is focusing on the need to strengthen leadership, accountability and financial management in South Africa’s public sector.
The three-day gathering brings together public sector leaders, finance officials, auditors, risk practitioners, policymakers and other strategic stakeholders to deliberate on the future of public finance leadership and institutional transformation.
The opening day featured keynote addresses, expert panel discussions, technical presentations and networking sessions, with delegates reflecting on some of the challenges facing government institutions and municipalities.
CIGFARO president Louise Muller said the organisation had an important role to play in promoting ethical conduct and professional excellence in public finance.
“CIGFARO has been a professional organisation, championing ethical conduct, technical excellence, and life-long learning in a sector that is fundamental in South Africa’s democracy,” Muller said.
Minister of Public Service and Administration Mzamo Buthelezi told delegates that public finance officials had a responsibility to ensure that government finances remained transparent and accountable.
He said restoring public confidence in government depended, among other things, on officials being honest in their financial reporting.
“Report honestly, your books must be clear. You will then have restored faith that public finance officials can be trusted. This is a history of stewardship, and this is how generations will judge you,” Buthelezi said.
EThekwini Municipality Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba said the conference theme was particularly relevant to local government, where municipalities were under increasing pressure to deliver services while working with constrained resources.
Xaba said municipalities were facing rising infrastructure demands, growing community expectations and financial pressures, making effective public finance leadership more important than ever.
He said modern municipal leadership could no longer view finance in isolation from other areas of service delivery.
“Modern leadership must connect finance, infrastructure, technology, revenue management, and operations. Infrastructure is both balance sheet and street,” Xaba said.
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