Lifestyle audits lead to internal probe of 400 civil servants

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.

- MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA

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.”