Page 256 - SAMRC Annual Report 2024-2025

REPORT OF THE AUDITOR-GENERAL TO PARLIAMENT

ON THE SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL

Report on the audit of the Unaudited supplementary schedule
financial statements 7. The supplementary information set out on page 337
does not form part of the financial statements and
Options is presented as additional information. I have not
audited this schedule and, accordingly, I do not
1. I have audited the financial statements of the South express an opinion on it.
African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) set out
on pages 263 to 336, which comprise the statement Responsibilities of the accounting
of financial position as at 31 March 2025, statement
of financial performance, statement of changes authority for the financial statements
in net assets, cash flow statement and statement 8. The accounting authority is responsible for the
of comparison of budget information with actual preparation and fair presentation of the financial
information for the year then ended, as well as notes statements in accordance with GRAP and the
to the financial statements, including a summary of requirements of the PFMA; and for such internal
significant accounting policies. control as the accounting authority determines is
necessary to enable the preparation of financial
2. In my opinion, the financial statements present statements that are free from material misstatement,
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position whether due to fraud or error.
of the South African Medical Research Council as at 9. In preparing the financial statements, the accounting
31 March 2025 and its financial performance and cash authority is responsible for assessing the public entity’s
flows for the year then ended in accordance with ability to continue as a going concern; disclosing, as
the Standards of Generally Recognised Accounting applicable, matters relating to going concern; and
Practice (GRAP) and the requirements of the Public using the going concern basis of accounting unless
Finance Management Act 1 of 1999 (PFMA). the appropriate governance structure either intends
to liquidate the public entity or to cease operations,
or has no realistic alternative but to do so.
Basis for opinion
3. I conducted my audit in accordance with the Responsibilities of the auditor-general
International Standards on Auditing (ISAs). My for the audit of the financial statements
responsibilities under those standards are further
described in the responsibilities of the auditor- 10. My objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance
general for the audit of the financial statements about whether the financial statements as a whole
are free from material misstatement, whether due
section of my report.
to fraud or error; and to issue an auditor’s report
4. I am independent of the public entity in accordance that includes my opinion. Reasonable assurance is a
with the International Ethics Standards Board high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that
for Accountants’ International Code of Ethics for an audit conducted in accordance with the ISAs will
Professional Accountants (including International always detect a material misstatement when it exists.
Independence Standards) (IESBA code) as well Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are
as other ethical requirements that are relevant to considered material if, individually or in aggregate,
my audit in South Africa. I have fulfilled my other they could reasonably be expected to influence the
ethical responsibilities in accordance with these economic decisions of users taken on the basis of
financial statements.
requirements and the lESBA code.
11. A further description of my responsibilities for the
5. I believe that the audit evidence I have obtained is audit of the financial statements is included in the
sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for my annexure to this auditor’s report. This description,
opinion. which is located at page 257, forms part of my
auditor’s report.
Other matter
6. I draw attention to the matter below. My opinion is
not modified in respect of this matter.

254 SAMRC ANNUAL REPOR T 2025-26