The Auditor-General of South Africa (AG) has not approved the municipal audit reports for three of the largest cities: Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Ekurhuleni, due to ongoing formal disputes initiated by these municipalities. This situation raises concerns among opposition parties regarding the integrity and future of the cities' financial audits, as the AG plays a crucial role in ensuring transparency and accountability in governmental financial practices.

The spokesperson for the AG, Africa Boso, confirmed that the lack of signed-off audit reports stems from unresolved issues declared by the cities themselves. While the AG has refrained from disclosing specific details about the disputes at play, the development highlights significant accountability challenges facing local governments in South Africa. The inability to finalize these audits could have cascading effects, not only on the financial management within the cities but also on public trust in governmental institutions.

As the situation progresses, it will be important to see how the conflicts impact the governance of the involved municipalities, especially concerning financial operations and their ability to deliver essential services. Moreover, the outcome might set a precedent for how municipal disputes are handled in the future, affecting relationships between local powers and the Auditor-General's office.