Iziko’s heritage treasures lost in a financial records maze
Iziko Museums of South Africa cannot properly account for its heritage assets, with incomplete records and incorrect valuations earning the institution a qualified audit opinion.
The Auditor-General’s office revealed the findings in Parliament on Tuesday, 27 October 2026 during a briefing on the 2025-26 audit outcomes for the Sport, Arts and Culture portfolio.
“Iziko was mainly qualified because of heritage assets that were incomplete and not correctly valued,” the office told the NCOP Select Committee on Education, Sciences and Creative Industries.
The finding raises questions about how accurately Iziko records and values the heritage collections entrusted to its care.
Iziko operates a network of national museums in Cape Town, including the South African Museum, the National Gallery and the Slave Lodge. Its collections form part of South Africa’s cultural and historical heritage.
Yet the institution was among four entities in the portfolio that failed to secure clean audit outcomes.
The National Heritage Council (NHC) also received a qualified opinion because it could not provide supporting information for some transactions and account balances.
The council was separately flagged for material findings on its performance reporting.
The Mandela Bay Theatre Complex was qualified because its irregular expenditure figure was incomplete.
Robben Island Museum fared worse, receiving an adverse audit opinion after failing to provide supporting information for various transactions and account balances.
“For Robben Island, we did note supporting information that was not provided for various transactions and account balances, which had an impact on the institution receiving an adverse opinion,” the Auditor-General’s office said.
The museum’s governance problems extended beyond its financial statements. Its audit committee was largely non-functional for most of the financial year.
Michelle Magerman, from the Auditor-General’s office, said the institutions with qualified opinions and Robben Island Museum required particular attention.
“Obviously, the ones that are qualified and the Robben Island Museum do need some attention,” she said.
The findings expose weaknesses across institutions responsible for preserving and promoting South Africa’s cultural heritage.
Although the portfolio achieved 13 clean audits, the Auditor-General said entities with audit findings manage 77% of its budget.
About 66% of financial statements submitted for audit contained material misstatements, highlighting widespread weaknesses in financial reporting before the auditors intervened.
The department and its entities did not get an opportunity to respond to the findings in Tuesday’s meeting.
Committee chairperson Makhi Feni adjourned the meeting after Deputy Minister Peace Mabe failed to join. Minister Gayton McKenzie and Director-General Cynthia Khumalo were also absent. The meeting ended before the department and the National Arts Council could present their briefings.
