The directors are required by the Companies Act of South Africa, 1973 (as amended) to maintain adequate accounting records and are responsible for the content and integrity of the annual financial statements and related financial information included in this report. It is their responsibility to ensure that the annual financial statements fairly present the state of affairs of the group as at the end of the financial year and the results of its operations and cash flows for the period then ended, in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards. The external auditors are engaged to express an independent opinion on the annual financial statements.
The annual financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and are based upon appropriate accounting policies consistently applied and supported by reasonable and prudent judgements and estimates.
The directors acknowledge that they are ultimately responsible for the systems and internal control established by the group and place considerable importance on maintaining a strong control environment. To enable the directors to meet these responsibilities, the board sets standards for internal control aimed at reducing the risk of error or loss in a cost effective manner. The standards include the proper delegation of responsibilities within a clearly defined framework, effective accounting procedures and adequate segregation of duties to ensure an acceptable level of risk. These controls are monitored throughout the group and all employees are required to maintain the highest ethical standards in ensuring the group’s business is conducted in a manner that in all reasonable circumstances is above reproach. The focus of risk management in the group is on identifying, assessing, managing and monitoring all known forms of risk across the group. While operating risk cannot be fully eliminated, the group endeavours to minimise it by ensuring that appropriate infrastructure, controls, systems and ethical behaviour are applied and managed within predetermined procedures and constraints.
The directors are of the opinion, based on the information and explanations given by management, that the system of internal control provides reasonable assurance that the financial records may be relied upon for the preparation of the annual financial statements. However, any system of internal control can provide only reasonable, and not absolute, assurance against material misstatement or loss.
The directors have reviewed the group’s cash flow forecast for the year to 30 June 2010 and, in the light of this review and the current financial position, they are satisfied that the group has or has access to adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.
The external auditors are responsible for independently auditing and reporting on the group’s annual financial statements. The annual financial statements have been examined by the group’s external auditors and their report is presented on page 27.
The annual financial statements set out on pages 28 to 76, which have been prepared on the going concern basis, were approved by the board on 9 September 2009 and were signed on its behalf by:
NA Gasa Chairman
NH Vlok Chief executive officer
Centurion 9 September 2009
I certify that, to the best of my knowledge, in accordance with the Companies Act 1973 (as amended), the company has lodged with the Registrar all returns as are required by a public company in terms of the Act, for the year ended 30 June 2009 and, furthermore, that all such returns are true, correct and up to date.
DA Nieuwoudt CA(SA) Company secretary