Auditor-General (South Africa)
The Auditor-General is an office established by the 1996 Constitution of South Africa and is one of the Chapter nine institutions intended to support democracy, although its history dates back at least 100 years.
The incumbent is Thembekile Makwetu who was deputy auditor-general until he took over from Terence Nombembe whose contract ended in December 2013. Nombembe, who also served as deputy auditor-general prior to his appointment, replaced Shauket Fakie on his retirement in December 2006.
Mandate
The Auditor-General, a "watchdog over the government," is an ombudsman-type office similar to that of the Public Protector but with much more limited jurisdiction. The focus of the office is not inefficient or improper bureaucratic conduct but the proper use and management of public money. Section 188 of the Constitution states that the Auditor-General is required to report on the finances of all national, provincial and local government administrations and has the discretion to audit any institution that receives money for a public purpose. The reports of the Auditor-General must be made public. They must also be submitted to any legislature which has a direct interest in the audit, and to any other authority prescribed by national legislation.