The East London Industrial Development Zone SOC Ltd (ELIDZ) recently hosted its 2019/20 Annual General Meeting (AGM), at the ELIDZ Conference Centre, to inter alia, report on the organisation’s performance for the period 2019/2020 and announce the outcome of the audit process conducted by the Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA).

In the year ending 31 March 2020, the ELIDZ achieved a clean audit opinion. This is the fifth clean audit in as many years, successively.

Welcoming these audit outcomes, the ELIDZ Board Chairperson: Professor Mlungisi Makalima, referred to the organisation’s resolve to optimally leverage the industrialization facilitation instruments provided by government under the country’s Special Economic Zones (SEZ) programme. He further noted with satisfaction that the organic and professional partnerships forged between the ELIDZ Board and the Executive Management, on the one hand, and the Department of Trade and Industry as well as its Provincial and BCMM shareholders, on the other, has once more yielded exemplary results, for other SOE’s to emulate. “This consistent year-on-year outcome is testament to careful adherence to the principles of clean governance, exemplary leadership and unfailing staff commitment,” said Makalima.

The fifth clean audit outcome also marked five years for the ELIDZ Board Chairperson at the helm of the organisation.

ELIDZ Chief Executive Officer, Simphiwe Kondlo, concurred with the Chairperson’s sentiments saying: “The mantra of the ELIDZ Executive Management team is clean administration. This is what has led the organisation to achieve five successive clean audit opinions from the principal Auditor in the land. Led by this mantra, year-on-year, the ELIDZ staff commit themselves to above board business dealings through ensuring strict adherence to internal guiding principles and government issued legislative prescripts.”

“This has ensured that adequate systems and internal controls put in place guarantee sound financial management and corporate governance.”

Expressing their delight at the audit outcomes, both shareholders congratulated the ELIDZ on the greatest feat that has kept eluding most provincial parastatals. In accepting the annual report on behalf of the MEC for Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT), the Head of Department (HOD) Mickey Mama said: “The ELIDZ is one of the best stories to come out of the province as it continues to deliver hope where there seems to be none while safeguarding diligence and efficiency in the business operations.”

In addition, she lauded the organisation for modelling clean and transparent governance in the DEDEAT group of state-owned entities and further encouraged continued delivery on the set mandate.

Furthermore, Mama awarded the ELIDZ Board of Directors, Executive Management and staff with the MEC’s Certificates of Excellence in recognition of the team effort that went into achieving exceptional results for the year ending 31 March 2020.

The award of these certificates shows that the ELIDZ understands the importance of accountability, good governance and working with the office of the Auditor-General,” concluded Mama.