The Chair of the Finance and Procurement Committee, Counsellor Fawzia Peer, officially welcomed more than 1700 delegates to the 84th Institute of Municipal Financial Officers (IMFO) Annual Conference. Hosted this year by eThekwini Municipality, Standard Bank and PricewaterHouseCoopers, the Conference is built around the theme of Sustainable and Compliant Governance- 2014 and beyond! Prominent speakers Public Protector Adv. Thuli Madonsela, Auditor General Kimi Makwetu and KZN MEC Nomusa Dube will address the delegates during the conference.

IMFO provides a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas knowledge, best practices and products for service excellence and maximum financial performance. IMFO aims to provide within the statutory framework, effective financial accounting advice, as well as settling and maintaining high financial standards and controls in the area of Local Government.

Counsellor Peer, in her welcome address stated that in terms of local government and the public sector, tremendous progress has been made. Over 3.1 million houses have been built, more than 6 million new households have gained access to clean water and over 5 million households have been connected to electricity.

Each year IMFO acknowledges the Mayor, Municipal Manager and Chief Finance Officer of the municipality, whom the Auditor General announces to have clean audit, by awarding them with an IMFO Clean Audit Award. This prestigious Awards Evening is one annual event which the institute pays tribute and gives praise to its CFO members who continue to raise the professional standard of municipal finance officials.