Vonani Chauke has been appointed as deputy auditor-general, the office of the auditor-general said on Thursday.

The appointment will be effective from 1 July.

Chauke will take over from the previous deputy, Tsakani Maluleke, who was appointed as auditor-general (AG) in December after the death of the outgoing AG, Kimi Makwetu, in November 2020 following a battle with lung cancer.

As deputy AG, Chauke will be the national audit office's accounting officer and will be responsible for supporting the AG during her fixed seven-year term, according to a statement from the AG's office.

Chauke's career includes a stint as a partner at SizweNtalubaGobodo in Johannesburg as well as at Deloitte Africa. He joins the office of the auditor-general from Deloitte's Risk Advisory in Johannesburg.

According to his LinkedIn profile, his credentials include board membership at the local Institute of Internal Auditors. He is a qualified CA (SA), CISA and CIA with over two decades of auditing experience, and studied at Unisa, Wits and UCT.

Maluleke expressed optimism that Chauke would be able to help her office drive efforts to tighten auditing processes in SA.

"We are very pleased to have a leader of Chauke's calibre joining the national audit office at a time when our organisation is implementing the new, enhanced powers following the amendment of the Public Audit Act, to further enhance oversight and improve accountability, while protecting the gains that were made by our predecessors.

"I am confident that his expertise and wealth of knowledge will bolster our efforts to continue to respond effectively to the public expectations and carry out our constitutional mandate," said Maluleke.

Source: News24