Staff Members, structure and functions of the Internal Audit Unit within the Department; whether the Audit Committee considers the Internal Audit Reports; and whether the Minister holds Meetings to discuss the Internal Reports and their Findings

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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO: 574 (NW739E)

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO: 7-2012 OF 9 MARCH 2012

DR LL BOSMAN (DA) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION:

1. Whether her department has an internal audit unit; if not, why not; if so, (a) how many staff members are employed in the unit and (b) what (i) is the structure and (ii) are the functions of the unit;

2. whether the audit committee considers the internal audit reports; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; 

3. whether she holds meetings to discuss (a) the internal reports and (b) their findings with the audit unit; if not, why not, in each case; if so, (i) on what dates has each specified meeting taken place and (ii) what are the further relevant details?

REPLY:

1. Yes

   (a) The internal audit unit has 18 approved posts for professional internal auditors and six support staff posts.  The Head of the Unit is at Chief Director level. 

   (b) There are three directorates with the following functions; Internal Audits, Performance Audits, Forensic Audits and facilitation of Risk Management , and  Information Communication Technology Audits (ICT).

2. The Department’s Audit Committee considers the Internal Audit reports during the Audit Committee meetings, and the Audit Committee makes further recommendations and monitors the implementation of the Internal Audit Report recommendations.

3. The Director-General, in his capacity as the Chief Accounting Officer, meets with the internal audit unit regularly and reports to the Minister on strategic interventions required based on internal audit consolidated findings and recommendations.  The Minister is committed to ensuring that the internal audit unit functions effectively, in support of the Director-General.  The Minister has also met the internal audit unit during her engagements in meetings such as the annual strategic planning session of the Department.

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