News in brief

International Journal of Government Auditing, Jul 2000

For more information, contact the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation, ul. Gilyarovskogo 31, bld. 1, 129090, Moscow, Ochotnyi Rjad 1, Russian Federation.

South Africa

New Auditor General Cites Goals, Commitments

Mr. Shauket Fakie, South Africa's new Auditor General as of December I, 1999, strongly believes that his office has an important role to play in controlling the country's economic crime. This former Deputy Auditor General and Chief Executive Officer is also committed to leading the way in government accountability and enhancing professional services.

During his career, Mr. Fakie has developed a broad range of audit and consulting skills, both locally and internationally. In 1982, he joined Ernst & Young in Cape Town and by 1985 became an audit supervisor there. When his career development was impeded under apartheid, he became an audit manager/partner in an Australian auditing firm. For the next two years, he worked as an independent auditor, consultant, tax advisor, and financial accountant in both the public and private sectors.

In 1992, Mr. Fakie returned to South Africa and joined Ernst & Young as a senior consultant. In that job, he developed business plans and rendered management advisory and business process reengineering services to the Departments of Education, Health, and Public Works. He was also involved in business process improvement projects and corporate advisory services for several other small and medium enterprises. He joined the Auditor General's Office in 1995 when he was appointed Provincial Auditor of Gauteng Province; three years later, in 1998, he became Deputy Auditor General and Chief Executive Officer.

As Deputy Auditor General, he oversaw the audits of the World Health Organization and various related bodies, such as the International Computing Centre, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. As Chief Executive Officer, he led the office in its quest for employment equality.

The President of the Republic of South Africa appointed Mr. Fakie as the Auditor General in December 1999 following a unanimous vote by the National Assembly. In his new position, Mr. Fakie is inspired by the fact that the Office of the Auditor General is independent in both theory and practice. Mr. Fakie strongly believes that the Office must "live" its independence, which is at the heart of democracy.

Because of Mr. Fakie's belief that the Office has an important role to play in getting economic crime under control in South Africa, top management from his office participated in the National Anti-Corruption Summit held in Parliament. The summit served as the basis for a three-part national strategy to combat corruption, prevent corruption and build integrity, and raise awareness.

Mr. Fakie believes that his office must be cost-effective and that his staff must have multiple skills and sufficient training to be effective. He envisions the accounting and auditing professions being transformed by more equal representation in terms of race and gender. He also wishes to support emerging black audit firms by expanding current efforts to contract out auditing work.