Nearly 400 senior civil servants that underwent lifestyle audits in both the national and provincial government were referred for internal investigations by their departments over the past three financial years.

None of the officials were reported to the police for criminal investigations during the same period.

This is according to Public Service and Administration minister Mzamo Buthelezi when he was replying to parliamentary questions from EFF MP Sixolise Gcilishe.

Gcilishe enquired about the total number of senior government officials who have been formally charged, disciplined and/or dismissed as a direct result of lifestyle audits conducted since 2021.

Buthelezi said the lifestyle audits comprised three steps that included lifestyle review, lifestyle investigation and lifestyle audit.

“These steps follow on each other and require the unit to conduct interventions to address each phase, before moving to the next phase.”

He said lifestyle audits were a decentralised process where each department conducted its own lifestyle audits by following the three steps.

“By January each year departments report to the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) on the implementation of lifestyle audits. The DPSA produces a compliance report on the implementation of lifestyle audits in the public service in March each year.”

Buthelezi said there were 39 senior government officials who were referred for internal investigation by their departments when the implementation of lifestyle audits began in 2021/2022.

The number grew to 229 in 2022/2023 and then dropped to 124 in 2023/2024.

The department that recorded the highest numbers of senior government officials who were referred for internal investigations included the Health department in North West with 26 referrals, Government Pension Administration Agency with 39, the Presidency 21, Education department in Gauteng 27 and Gauteng’s Infrastructure Development 44 during the three year period.

Buthelezi said his department follows up on a quarterly basis with departments to submit progress reports on all the investigations that were reported.

“There were no reported cases of criminality to the South African Police Service during the above mentioned reporting periods,” he said.

Buthelezi said the department’s Public Administration Ethics Integrity and Disciplinary Technical Assistance Unit started in 2024 with supporting investigators to conduct lifestyle investigations after the first phase of support geared at the training ethics officers on the review process was finalised. 

It is collecting information on the outcomes of investigations this year.

He also said the unit will in this financial year collect information to assess the impact of the interventions.

“Currently the unit is not in a position to provide a response on the number of officials charged, disciplined and/or dismissed as a direct result of lifestyle audits.”

Buthelezi’s reply came as President Cyril Ramaphosa said members of the executive have granted consent to the Director-General and the Secretary of the Cabinet to conduct the lifestyle audits for the 2024/25 financial year.

Ramaphosa said the lifestyle audits were preceded by lifestyle reviews and lifestyle investigations. “The lifestyle reviews are the first step of the process and are conducted subsequent to the submission of the financial disclosures by the Members of the Executive. Lifestyle investigations will follow in the event the information provided during lifestyle reviews is not satisfactory.”

He also said the lifestyle audits of the directors-general and the CFO in the various government departments was not managed by the Presidency.

“The process is managed through the Department of Public Service and Administration. The Minister of Public Service and Administration is therefore best placed to respond to the lifestyle audits of this category of employees.”

However, Ramaphosa stated that the lifestyle audits of the members of the executive were conducted by qualified auditors within the Office of the Director General and Secretary of Cabinet.

“The limitation of the legal framework in conducting the lifestyle audits of the Members of the Executive and publishing them is a matter that is under consideration. Members are requested to voluntarily consent to lifestyle audits.”

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za

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