Audit fees are charged by the Auditor-General of South Africa. Section 23 of the Public Audit Act, Act 25 of 2004, provides for the Auditor-General to determine the basis for the calculation and audit fees to be recovered from auditees in respect of audits, after having consulted the oversight mechanism and National Treasury. An auditee must settle the account for audit fees within 30 days from the date of the invoice, failing which the Auditor-General must promptly take legal steps to recover the amount unless it is not practical to do so. The Auditor-General may charge interest on any audit account not paid within 30 days of the date of the account at the rate prescribed in terms of section 1(2) of the Prescribed Rate of Interest Act, Act 55 of 1975. If an