Lifestyle audits concluded in 24 national, 71 provisional departments - Ntshavheni

CAPE TOWN - Government says 24 national departments and 71 provisional departments have concluded lifestyle audits for their senior management, including directors.

Reporting on Wednesday’s Cabinet discussions, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, however, called out the National Treasury for being non-compliant in this regard. 

During this year’s State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa said completing lifestyle audits for the public service was necessary as part of efforts to root out corruption. 

However, Ramaphosa has come under fire for failing to meet his promise of conducting audits on his own executive. 

In efforts to clean up the public service, Cabinet has noted progress in conducting lifestyle audits on top management.

But Ntshavheni said not all departments have met the brief. 

“It’s a pity that we have to call out the Treasury for still not being compliant on this matter. And we have to call them out as they must lead because they are the custodian of the Public Financial Management Act.” 

She said it’s also a concern to Cabinet that scores of civil servants are on paid suspension for protracted periods, putting a further strain on limited resources. 

Of 250 cases identified for intervention at national level, 133 suspensions have been lifted. 

Interventions have also been made in 172 provincial cases and 68 of these matters have now been resolved. 

Following concerns raised by the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture, government is now in the process of testing a central registry for disciplinary matters. 

This is to avoid implicated individuals cropping up at another department should they be fired or resign.