ERWAT Showcases Internal Controls Excellence at CIGFARO 2025

ERWAT’s commitment to governance and accountability took centre stage at the 96th Annual CIGFARO Conference, where Chief Financial Officer Gratitude Ramphaka delivered a compelling presentation on the strategic role of internal controls in enhancing audit performance.

At the prestigious CIGFARO 2025 conference, held at the Durban International Convention Centre in October 2025, ERWAT’s CFO, Ms. Gratitude Ramphaka, addressed public finance professionals on the topic:

“Effective Internal Controls as a Tool to Improve Audit Outcomes.”

Her presentation reinforced ERWAT’s continued drive toward operational transparency, proactive risk management, and audit excellence — all essential pillars of sound public sector governance.

Ms. Ramphaka detailed several internal control measures implemented during the previous financial year, all of which contributed to ERWAT’s clean audit outcomes. These initiatives demonstrate ERWAT’s practical application of accountability mechanisms across its operations:

• Internal Tracking System: A tool introduced to monitor and manage information requests from the Auditor-General and external auditors.
• Regular Audit Committee Engagement: Cross-departmental participation in Internal Audit Committee meetings to promote alignment and risk mitigation.
• Operation Clean Audit Participation: Active involvement in the City of Ekurhuleni’s city-wide initiative focused on continuous audit resolution tracking.
• Independent External Auditor Appointments: Strengthening of financial reporting processes through impartial external reviews.

Each measure aligns with ERWAT’s broader mandate of Excellence in Water Care, ensuring that financial governance complements its environmental and service delivery goals.

Hosted by the Chartered Institute of Government Finance Audit and Risk Officers (CIGFARO), the 96th Annual Conference convened public sector finance leaders from across South Africa. The event celebrated decades of financial governance progress while providing a platform to explore future-oriented solutions.

Ms. Ramphaka’s insights added significant value to the discourse, offering a replicable model for other entities seeking improved audit outcomes through well-coordinated internal control systems.

Explore how ERWAT upholds accountability and audit integrity through internal controls and proactive governance.