This blog started due to a LinkedIn post held with individuals regarding corruption between third parties and government officials – specific to the South African Revenue Service (SARS). While this occurred prior to 2020, the underlying lesson remains – without independent monitoring and oversight of activities, “bad actors” and “wasteful spending” are sure to occur by both internal and external parties. This scenario remains whether it’s within government or within public/non-public business environment.
In reading the case around SARS, the commissions report, and various other news articles, my perspective was there were “deals” made without independence and in the end taxpayers dollars wasted. South Africa now has two agencies reporting into the Parliament, including:
- Standing Committee of Public Accounts (SCOPA)
- Special Investigating Unity (SIU).
When I compare this to current US activities by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), I see this team providing an independent assessment on how each agency is spending taxpayers’ dollars and whether the spending is aligned to the strategic mission, goals, and objectives set.
As someone who has spent 25+ years as an internal auditor, my responsibility in alignment with the Institute of Internal Auditors mission remains, “to provide independent, objective assurance and advisory services to add value and improve an organization’s operations”.
To be truly independent, one must possess integrity in the way they go about their work, be transparent in our actions and findings, as well as recommend innovative ways to govern activities to improve operations, increase value, as well as to deter corruption and prevent scandals. In the end, inefficiencies, inability to evolve due to changing circumstances, corruption, and scandals will quickly impede value and operations of any business!
I would love to hear from people globally as to what other countries are doing to monitor and provide oversight into the taxpayer dollars being spent!