AGSA to host international summit of auditors-general from G20 member countries
PRETORIA – Auditor-general (AG) Tsakani Maluleke will host a summit of supreme audit institutions (SAIs) of the G20 member countries, known as SAI20, on 24 to 25 June 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The formation, which plays a pivotal role in promoting global transparency and accountability, is chaired by the AG of South Africa for the 2025 calendar year. SAI20 emerged in response to the critical need for heightened oversight and accountability during the extraordinary disbursement of public funds to combat the covid-19 pandemic. The importance of balancing pandemic response efforts with achieving sustainable development goals reinforced the necessity for transparency in public financial management across nations and the formation of SAI20.
The Group of Twenty (popularly known as G20) is an international forum of both developing and developed countries that seeks to find solutions to global economic and financial issues. The SAI of the country holding the G20 presidency chairs the SAI20 engagement group. Therefore, when South Africa assumed the presidency of G20 for 2025, the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) assumed the chair of the SAI20 2025 from 1 December 2024 to 30 November 2025. The theme for G20 South Africa’s presidency is solidarity, equality and sustainability.
South Africa will host about 20 heads of SAIs from G20 member countries and invited guests. Also in attendance will be key roleplayers in the audit profession in the country and business stakeholders.
Says Maluleke, “We are honoured to host the SAI20 member countries and our esteemed guests. This engagement platform enables us to drive collaboration between the SAIs, supporting their vital role in enhancing governance and fostering oversight of sustainable development within their respective countries. The gathering also presents an opportunity for SAIs to share insights that will create foresight for our G20 governments to ensure that the plight of citizens in our respective countries continues to lead the developmental agenda.”
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will deliver a keynote address at the summit on Tuesday, 24 June, at the Marriott Hotel, Melrose Arch, in Johannesburg.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi will deliver an address during a welcome cocktail hosted by AG Maluleke on Monday, 23 June at the Marriott Hotel.
Key focus and developmental themes for SAI20 under the AGSA presidency
Maluleke says that, during the AGSA’s chairpersonship, SAI20 will focus on two developmental themes: 1). unlocking and leveraging public infrastructure funding for equality, sustainable growth and bringing improvement to the lives of citizens and 2). collaborative and integrative efforts for a future-ready workforce – bridging the skills gap in sustainable economic growth.
“Our involvement in the international arena is a significant mark of achievement, not only for our office but also for our country. It entrenches the role we play on the global stage and for our stakeholders and peers, thus putting South Africa on the map.
“The most interesting part is that we are helping to find ways to provide assurance in the most appropriate ways of how the world is moving towards the successful achievement of the United Nations’ sustainable development goals. The ultimate goal is to create an environment where public sector auditors all over the world can do their work to the best benefit of the citizens they are supposed to serve without any fear, favour or prejudice. Ultimately, our work empowers citizens ‘to hold the custodians of public resources accountable’, as outlined in the International Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions (ISSAI) 12, which encourage SAIs to demonstrate their value and benefit by making a difference to the lives of citizens in their respective jurisdictions,” concluded Maluleke.
The summit is expected to deliver a joint communique, which will set out priorities for all member SAIs to implement until the next summit.