Lifestyle audits of Cabinet members still not complete, Ramaphosa tells MPs
President Cyril Ramaphosa faced the questions on his return to the National Assembly for the last time in this administration before Parliament rises ahead of the polls.
President Cyril Ramaphosa replied to oral questions from Members of the National Assembly at the Good Hope Chamber in Parliament, Cape Town on 19 March 2024. Picture: @PresidencyZA/X
CAPE TOWN - President Cyril Ramaphosa said that lifestyle audits of Cabinet members were still not complete, years after announcing the initiative.
Opposition parties now say the lack of lifestyle audits is the reason why there are so many corruption allegations faced by members of his Cabinet.
Ramaphosa faced the questions on his return to the National Assembly for the last time in this administration before Parliament rises ahead of the polls.
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen asked President Ramaphosa why the lifestyle audits had not been finalised after so many years.
He said reports of the Hawks raiding Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s house for alleged corruption was because lifestyle audits weren't taken seriously.
"Your failure to implement lifestyle audits is what has facilitated this alleged corruption by the Speaker."
But Ramaphosa said the audits were delayed because of a lack of capacity in the Presidency director-general's office which is leading the process.
"That office has now sourced competent, skilled personnel with experience in conducting lifestyle audits and the capacity building exercise took longer than anticipated but it is firmly underway."
Ramaphosa said any member of Cabinet that is alleged to have engaged in corruption must face the full might of the law.