By 
PRETORIA — In a historic move reinforcing institutional continuity and gender transformation, Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke has formally appointed Ms Sibongiseni Ngoma as the new Deputy Auditor-General (DAG) of the Auditor-General South Africa (AGSA).
The landmark appointment, effective June 1, 2026, positions Ngoma as only the second woman to ascend to the executive office in the supreme audit institution’s 115-year history. It follows an exhaustive nationwide recruitment process that culminated in a formal endorsement by Parliament’s Standing Committee on the Auditor-General (Scoag).
Under the statutory provisions of the Public Audit Act (PAA), the Auditor-General is empowered to appoint a person with appropriate qualifications and proven experience to the position of DAG, subject to rigorous consultation with parliamentary oversight bodies. In accordance with these regulations, Ngoma will fulfill an initial tenure not exceeding five years, carrying an option for a singular renewal of up to an additional five years.
As the newly minted DAG, Ngoma steps into a demanding dual mandate. Beyond her executive oversight, she will function as the national audit office’s primary accounting officer. In this capacity, she takes direct responsibility for driving the complex operational architecture that underpins AGSA’s public sector mandates and supports the Auditor-General’s vision.
Ngoma is uniquely positioned for the promotion, having already steered the office as acting Deputy Auditor-General since February 2026. Her permanent elevation transitions her from her prior role as AGSA’s Head of Audit, capping off a highly decorated career as a Chartered Accountant, CA(SA), spanning more than twenty years.
An Illustrious Career in Public Finance
Upon completing her academic credentials, Ngoma commenced her professional journey with a foundational training residency at global accounting firm Ernst & Young. She subsequently transitioned into the public sector ecosystem at the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), where she ascended through multiple oversight designations, eventually serving as the corporation’s Head of Internal Audit.
Her tenure at the national audit office began in 2012 when she was recruited as a corporate executive. Over the subsequent years, she successfully managed a diverse portfolio of strategic corporate units, including corporate finance, human capital, and legal operations. By 2015, her fiscal acumen led to her appointment as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of AGSA.
Her performance in the financial office earned national acclaim. In 2021, Ngoma achieved a sweeping victory at the prestigious annual CFO Awards, securing both the absolute “CFO of the Year” title and the “Public Sector CFO of the Year” accolade. The same year brought dual industry honors, as she was designated Public Sector CFO of the Year by the African Women Chartered Accountants (AWCA) and crowned the 2021 Executive of the Year by the Association for the Advancement of Black Accountants of Southern Africa (ABASA).
Leading the “Culture Shift 2030” Strategy
Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke expressed profound confidence in the selection, highlighting the strategic necessity of capable leadership as the institution navigates both internal transitions and changing public expectations.
“We are very pleased to have a leader of Ms Ngoma’s calibre take this critical role in the year that we celebrate 115 years of public auditing and providing illuminating insights for a better South Africa,” Maluleke noted. “We are equally pleased to be appointing a candidate from the organisation who has been part of the journey of implementing our ambitious culture shift 2030 strategy. I am confident that she is the right person to enable us to continue fulfilling our constitutional mandate.”
Maluleke emphasized that the promotion highlights the resilience of the institution’s internal talent cultivation infrastructure. “I believe that her wealth of knowledge and expertise will further reinforce our efforts to continue to respond effectively to the public expectations and carry out our constitutional mandate with more vigour and professionalism,” she concluded.
Established originally in 1911, AGSA holds a unique constitutional mandate as South Africa’s independent supreme audit authority. It stands as the singular legal body empowered to systematically audit and report on state expenditure, tracking tax allocations across all tiers of governance. As Ngoma assumes office, she is tasked with sustaining this legacy of independent oversight, driving institutional transparency, and entrenching a culture of public accountability nationwide.
