Thembekile Kimi Makwetu, the outgoing Auditor General of South Africa, passed away in November 2020 after battling stage 4 lung cancer. He had a distinguished career in accounting and auditing, working for several firms before being appointed Auditor General in 2013. Under his leadership, the office of the Auditor General was granted expanded powers to deal with corruption and misuse of public funds. Makwetu made significant contributions to the accounting profession and helped strengthen oversight of public spending in South Africa.

1. Obituary of Thembekile Kimi Makwetu
Overview
In the evening of 11 November 2020, the office of the auditor general released statement
reporting that Kimi Makwetu had died in hospital where he was being treated for stage 4 lung
cancer. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in June 2018.
As an outgoing Auditor-General, Makwetu was due to end his seven-year term on 30
November 2020. He was appointed by President Jacob Zuma as Auditor General with effect
from 1 December 2013, and replaced Terrence Nombembe who was the first Black African
Auditor-General.
He had been recently appointment to the United Nations Independent Audit Advisory
Committee.
Replacement
Deputy AG Tsakani Maluleke is expected to take on the Auditor General post, after she
received the backing of Parliament’s ad hoc committee in October 2020.
On 02 September 2020, Makwetu released scathing report on the corruption and
irregularities of Covid-19 funds spending on PPE. The follow-up report is expected at the
end of November 2020.

2. Background and Education
Thembekile Kimi Makwetu grew in Cape Town (Gugulethu) and completed a his matric at St
John's College in Umtata in 1984.
In 1989 he obtained Social Science degree from the University of Cape Town. He got his
Bachelor of Accounting Science from the University of South Africa (UNISA).
He went on to receive a BCompt Honours degree from University of Natal in 1997 (both
qualifications he obtained through distance learning). He then went on to qualify as a
Chartered Accountant.
Both his parents Vela Makwetu (father) and Maureen Makwetu (mother) died before he was
appointed as Auditor General. His parents came from Cofimvaba, in Umtata, Eastern Cape.
Makwetu leaves behind his wife Miranda Makwetu and three children. While his date of birth
is not well documented, it is said that he was 54 at the time of death.
Career
He started his career with Standard Bank and later worked at Nampak. He completed his
articles at Deloitte where he progressed to senior management before joining Liberty and
Metropolitan Life in Cape Town (Western Cape).
He moved to Gauteng in 2003 where he worked at Liberty Life. Makwetu returned to Deloitte
as a director in the firm's forensic unit before his appointment as Deputy Auditor-General at
the Auditor-General South Africa (AGSA)
Achievements
In November 2019, Makwetu was honoured by the Association for the Advancement of
Black Accountants of Southern Africa (ABASA) with 2019 Presidential Award for Lifetime
Achievement “for his stellar work” in leading Auditor-General South Africa.
Under Mr Makwetu’s leadership, the Auditor-General of South Africa reached a milestone of
over 1 000 chartered accountants in its ranks.
Public Audit Amendment Act
Under Makwetu’s leadership, the AG’s office was instrumental in the passing of legislation
that could result in the arrest or penalties against serial misusers of public funds.
In 2017, the office of the Auditor-General asked Parliament for more powers to deal with
rampant abuse of public resources. The parliament unanimously voted to give AGSA office
extended powers.

3. In November 2018, the President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law and endorsed the
changes that expanded AGSA public sector audit mandate.
The President proclaimed 01 April 2019 as the commencement date of Public Audit
Amendment Act.
Under the Public Audit Amendment Act, the auditor general will be able to issue binding
recommendations to underperforming municipalities.
Contacts
Africa Boso AGSA 071 365 3024
Khutsafalo Mnisi AGSA 071 893 5381