AUDITING SA SPEAKS WITH PRESIDENT OF SAIGA, PHILLIP RAKGWALE, ABOUT HIS JOURNEY AT THE INSTITUTE ...

My journey with SAIGA began nearly two decades ago, as I was sitting quietly in a university lecture hall.

As the Institute celebrates its 35th anniversary, I find myself reflecting not only on SAIGA's journey but also on my own relationship with the professional body and the tremendous career growth I have enjoyed as a result of the relationship founded on comparable strong principles and goals.

I can vividly remember Mishelle September, from the AuditorGeneral SA, walking into the lecture hall at the then Technikon Pretoria to present to us the SAIGA Training Scheme.

I soon found myself among a group of wide-eyed intakes shortlisted for the RGA training scheme. And before I knew it, I was well on my way to earning the (RGA) qualification.

In fact, we were the second set of trainees in the training scheme, which was based on a diploma and later degree in public finance and accounting at the Technikon.

The determination and desire I had to be part of the SAIGA Institute back then still burns today, albeit with a new goal as I begin my second term as SAIGA president this month.

I look back with pride at the achievements of the last four years during which we repositioned SAIGA to focus on both auditing and accounting disciplines with the public sector.

SAIGA achievements and initiatives include:

• Building strategic partnerships that will position SAIGA as the preferred professional body to serve the public interest. Several MOUs were concluded during the term to name a few, AGSA, PAFA, SALGA (Access to 254 Municipalities), Universities and other professional bodies.

• The institution has registered the public sector auditor qualification at the NQF 8, the first of its kind in the public sector both locally and globally. QCTO has accredited PSAAA to offer the qualification as the training provider.

• Building capacity within the broader public sector environment and expanding the institute’s presence within the SADC region. The institution has multiple relationships across Africa through its relationship with PAFA, Afrosai-E, INTOSAI, and recently the African Diplomatic Community. SAIGA has already achieved this goal of being a global institution, which is recognised on the international stage.

• For SAIGA to be the springboard for public sector financial management capacity creation in Africa.

• Building strategic partnerships and monetise these relationships with the relevant professional qualification and membership benefits.

• Membership numbers have increased from less than 500 members to over 1475 members to date and forever increasing.

• SAIGA is recognised in various media, online, print media and traditional media across all languages.

• In terms of our publications, our academic research journal, SAJAAR has been researched almost across 195 countries, read by 1458 readers per month and at least 70 subscribers per month.

• We have reintroduced the Auditing SA Journal/Magazine, which covers topical content including technical research relating to the public sector, specifically auditing and finance.

• Hosted two national conferences, making at least half a million per conference as well as numerous webinars and events, since the inception of the organisation.

• Establishment of the SAIGA Academy (PSAAA) with its independent board and investing at least R4 million in order as a commercial vehicle for SAIGA and a strategic partner to the public sector in capacity building.

• We are in the process of accrediting universities in terms of public finance programmes and offering our public auditor qualification. The organisation has also accredited audit firms to host our trainees, which has led to options for our trainees.

• The SAIGA new competency framework is the first framework in the public sector for finance professionals to professionalising the public sector.

• Progress has been made in the accreditation process with IRBA and SAQA for the registration of a performance audit designation. The designation on performance audit designation is the first of its kind globally.

• The organisation has regional committees across the province, where SAIGA is promoted across the provinces and as vehicle of members taking part in the SAIGA Strategy implementation.

• SAIGA currently has seats in the ABASA Council and in the PAFA Advisory board, which is a significant achievement since the establishment of the organisation.

Other key initiatives achieved:

• Accreditation process with IRBA

• Certified Forensic Accountant (collaboration of 10 institutions)

• Accepted into the AntiIntimidation and Ethical Practices Forum (AEPF)

• Accepted into the Public Sector Audit & Risk Forum

• Fasset funding and LGSETA for the next 3 years to host trainees across the 9 provinces and across the sectors

• LTS system for SAIGA trainees

• Webinars (collab with UNISA, University of Bakircay)

• Introduction of two new professional designations

• Member of PAFA

Vision and mission

The objective is for SAIGA to be recognised as a preferred professional body that advances capacity building and accountability in the public sector for all citizens within Africa and globally, to partner with the public sector to ensure that there is a sustained social impact in the lives of ordinary citizens.

This can be achieved through the enhancement of the relevance and standing of the profession and the Institute, to the benefit of society and to provide outstanding service and valued products to the members. As we look towards the next 35 years, we must ensure the professionalisation of auditing and accounting in the public sector by continuing with the programme in partnership with government Training outside public practice (TOPP) in key institutions. i.e.., Metros, Municipalities, Entities, SARS, National Treasury, FIC, PIC etc.).

The other avenue is to open for other auditing and accountants in government to register for the SAIGA Programme to ultimately become RGAs. We will also open the programme for the public accountants in government to join the SAIGA programme to ultimately become the RGA and Certified Public Sector Accountants.

There is also a need to reintegrate the RGA Training Scheme back into the AGSA training programme, having closed all the previous gaps and having a solid undergraduate programme and post-graduate degree or programmes strictly based on the public sector finance needs and SAIGA.

Programme fundamentals and having a footprint and partnerships with universities and key accounting professional bodies include:

• Protecting the interest of the SAIGA profession in South Africa.

• Gaining market recognition for the profession with the industry and public sector.

• Providing technical leadership in public sector matters including participating in various platforms i.e., ASB Guidelines, Treasury Guidelines and Training Facilitations.

• Be a relevant and influential global player in the public sector auditing profession.

• Ensuring that the SAIGA footprint is on the development of the auditing profession on the African continent.

• Build and maintain strategic alliances and partnerships with other professional bodies within the industry and outside the industry and to be recognised as the leader in public sector auditing.

• Be sustainable financially by implementing turnaround revenue recovery strategies and discovering different revenue streams, i.e., training public sector courses. Create, cultivate, and maintain a cohesive, vibrant, and committed community of registered government auditors through its established forums.

The membership value will be increased through having the technical and thought leadership sessions at the regular SAIGA Conference to ensure that our members get enough CPD hours and see the value of being SAIGA members. We will support our trainee auditors who are in the AGSA and those who will be in the private firms to ensure that they are supported in terms of the training programme and having accredited trainee officers.

We are going to make sure our members are proud to be members of SAIGA to ensure that the membership package is increased and that there is a specific strategy for that. We will ensure that we have an agreement with National Treasury, Government Economic and Finance Cluster, and the security cluster to ensure that our members can train outside public practice and become registered auditors.

We will continue to contribute to the accounting profession by being highly ethical and contributing to the public sector accounting and auditing frameworks.

SAIGA will be a leading institute in the public sector in terms of influencing governance, public sector technical advisors, and trusted trainers of public sector professionals as a result of our research and member insights. 