South Africa’s Public Protector, Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka, has called for stronger internal audit systems across Africa, stressing that effective institutional oversight remains critical to strengthening accountability and preventing governance failures.
Speaking during a keynote address at the 12th African Federation of Institutes of Internal Auditors (AFIIA) Conference in Cape Town, Gcaleka highlighted the strategic role of internal auditors in identifying risks and governance weaknesses before they escalate into larger institutional challenges.
The conference, hosted by the Institute of Internal Auditors South Africa (IIA South Africa) on behalf of AFIIA from May 25 to 29, brought together more than 3,600 delegates from 29 African countries to discuss governance, risk management, accountability, and emerging challenges across the continent.
Gcaleka noted that while external oversight institutions typically step in after complaints are lodged or audit processes have been completed, internal auditors operate within organisations and are positioned to detect control weaknesses and governance gaps in real time.
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She explained that internal audit serves as an independent assurance function under the Three Lines Model developed by The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), enabling institutions to identify emerging risks and prevent issues such as corruption, fraud, and maladministration before they become systemic failures.
Her remarks came amid broader discussions at the AFIIA Governance Forum on strengthening institutions and improving accountability frameworks across Africa.
Participants, however, cautioned that the effectiveness of internal audit systems remains constrained by skills shortages and limited resources. Research presented during the conference showed that 86 percent of internal audit leaders rely on external support providers, while 67 percent reported that the technical capabilities of their teams do not fully align with major audit priorities.
