The best-run municipality in South Africa with a consistent track record of 15 years
The West Coast District Municipality (WCDM) is considered the best-run municipality in South Africa, with the latest Auditor-General (AG) report highlighting that it has received a clean audit for 15 years in a row.
According to the Auditor-General’s 2024/25 Consolidated General Report on Local Government Audit Outcomes, this achievement stands in contrast to the broader state of local government across the country.
The report noted that South Africa’s municipalities continue to face widespread governance failures, poor financial management and deteriorating service delivery, with “limited progress” made despite some improvements.
The AG found that 57% of municipalities recorded the same audit outcome as they did in 2020/21, while a further 15% regressed, including several that had previously achieved clean audits.
Only 39 municipalities—about 15% of the country’s total—received clean audits in 2024/25, accounting for just 8% of total local government expenditure.
The Auditor-General also highlighted persistent problems with unreliable financial reporting, weak financial management, deteriorating infrastructure and widespread non-compliance with legislation.
Material findings of noncompliance were recorded in 84% of municipalities, reflecting what the report described as a continued “disregard for legislation and a lack of consequences.”
Despite this, the Western Cape again emerged as the country’s best-performing province, with a majority of its municipalities in good standing.
It recorded the highest number of clean audits and was the only province where good-quality financial statements were consistently prevalent and where most municipalities avoided material compliance findings.
Among the province’s standout performers was the West Coast District Municipality, which was included on the Auditor-General’s honour roll of municipalities that have maintained clean audits for five or more consecutive years.
The municipality is the only one in South Africa to have sustained the achievement for 15 years straight.
A clean audit means that a municipality has produced credible financial statements and performance reports while complying with key legislation governing public finances.
It is also regarded as evidence of strong leadership, sound governance and effective internal controls that reduce the risk of financial mismanagement.
The achievement should motivate local governments
WCDM municipal manager David Joubert said the Auditor-General’s findings should encourage struggling municipalities to rediscover their core purpose.
“The Auditor-General’s report that many municipalities continue to ignore regulations, mismanage finances and projects, and disregard accountability has led to the risk of Treasury withholding equitable funding,” he said.
“Public servants must remind themselves why they are public servants. Their sole purpose is to deliver services that meet the needs of their communities.”
Joubert also rejected suggestions that local government is burdened by excessive regulation. He argues that compliance is essential to safeguarding public funds rather than an administrative obstacle.
Executive Mayor Roelof “Boffie” Strydom added that the municipality’s 15-year clean audit record should restore confidence in local government.
According to the municipality, a clean audit reflects “leadership strength” that extends throughout the organisation, creating a culture where officials remain focused on service delivery while also planning for future challenges.
“A clean audit reflects leadership strength, but it stretches throughout a municipality and suggests that management and officials are geared to deliver what the municipality stands for,” the municipality said.
It added that consistent governance gives municipal leaders the capacity to focus on long-term priorities such as attracting investment, improving water security, adopting smart-city technologies, stimulating local economic growth and building partnerships with the private sector.
Municipal spokesperson Heinrich Robertson has previously said the municipality’s success is not due to any structural advantage over other councils.
Instead, he attributed its performance to “the political vision and administrative will” of the council, as well as long-term political stability and consistent leadership.
The Auditor-General echoed that view, noting that municipalities maintaining clean audits for four years or more are generally characterised by stability in key positions, such as the municipal manager and chief financial officer.
Located north of Cape Town, the West Coast District Municipality covers more than 31,000 square kilometres and includes the Swartland, Saldanha Bay, Bergrivier, Cederberg and Matzikama local municipalities.
It serves a population of just under 500,000 people and continues to provide one of the country’s examples of sustained municipal governance and financial discipline.
The district council consists of 25 seats, which are occupied by a mix of directly elected proportional representatives and councillors appointed by the constituent local municipalities.
The political management is controlled by the Democratic Alliance (DA), which holds an outright majority.
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