Freedom Park’s clean audit commended
Freedom Park has received yet another clean audit, making this the third year in a row to celebrate.
Stakeholders commended the Freedom Park council and management for receiving a clean audit for three consecutive years.
Freedom Park CEO Fana Jiyane revealed that the monument received an unqualified audit from the director-general’s report of the 2012/2013 financial year at the monument’s first stakeholder networking breakfast to launch the Annual Report to its stakeholders at Freedom Park, Gallery of Leaders on Wednesday.
Among the stakeholders was Yusuf Abramjee of Lead SA, who is vocal about fighting against corruption in the country.
Abramjee said Freedom Park had to be commended. “The fact that they have a clean audit says a lot about the good administration,” Abramjee said.
He urged civil society to partner with Freedom Park to promote this valuable monument to the nation.
“We could take this hidden gem and bring it to the people of South Africa,” he said.
The monument needs to generate income to sustain its operation.
The auditor-general’s report also highlighted that 50% of the total planned targets were not achieved during the year under review. Jiyane indicated that the //hapo building was 99% compete when the director-general’s report was released, but this still meant it was considered to be incomplete.
The building was completed 22 days later and officially opened by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe on 22 April.
“If we look at it in that context, we would have achieved close to 70% of our total planned targets.
According to Jiyane, //hapo, an interpretative museum, was Freedom Park’s major achievement during the reporting period.
The museum showcases the African story from an African perspective unfolded in seven epochs, dating back to 3,6b years ago. It details the continent’s people from creation to the freedom the nation enjoys today.
The completion of //hapo marked the end of the construction phase of the park and the beginning of the operation phase.
Over the years, the park has experienced a slow but steady increase in visitor income, and this is indicative of the interplay between quality and sound business practices.
However, the CEO was pleased to report an 11% increase in revenue generated by admission fees from the previous financial year.
“With the opening of //hapo we are hoping to make a remarkable increase in the coming year. Besides grants that the park receives from the Department of Arts and Culture, it also has a rich African history and strongly depends on members of the public to sustain its operations.
