Hon Deputy Speaker, training was provided to all councillors as part of the Salga Councillor Induction Programme during the financial year 2011-12. This included a full day dedicated to the Municipal Finance Management Act, Act 56 of 2003, and to financial management oversight. This was done to strengthen oversight of financial management. Training sessions for members of the municipal public accounts committees have been concluded and progress can be reported. We have a record of the completion of this training programme in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Limpopo and Western Cape.
The Department for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs is working closely with provincial treasurers and provincial departments responsible for local government to monitor the progress of municipalities in establishing internal audit units and their functionality. Furthermore, 200 learners will be trained through the Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority, the Local Government Seta, in partnership with the SA Institute of Internal Auditors. Where evidence indicates that there are issues of inadequate communication between audit committees and mayors with respect to specific municipalities, this will be addressed accordingly.
The recent announcement of the establishment of the Municipal Information Systems Association, or Misa, will further enhance this initiative. This is because it provides for the arrangement of focused and dedicated training in particular, including training in financial management. We had no intention of tabling a separate report in addition to the report that the Auditor-General normally provides but, if needs be, we are readily available. Government remains committed to the attainment of clean audits by 2014, and part of the pronouncement on the Budget Vote is to accelerate interventions aimed at improving good governance and sound financial management. Of course, we made statements when we tabled the Budget and we have no intention of making another statement, unless there are calls that we should do so. If so, we will gladly do so.