Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa has revealed that as of March 2023, over 11 000 public servants in the national government have undergone lifestyle audits.
He made this announcement on Tuesday during a session with the National Assembly, responding to questions.
Responding to a question by Democratic Alliance leader, John Steenhuisen, who had asked whether the lifestyle audits on Members of the Executive have been concluded yet, Ramaphosa said lifestyle audits of public servants have been compulsory since 2021.
These audits are conducted by the Office of the Director-General in the Presidency and the Secretary of Cabinet.
“The process was institutionally initiated towards the end of 2022. Earlier this year, I sent letters to the Deputy President, Ministers and Deputy Ministers requesting their written consent to the process to ensure that the information is obtained in a legitimate and legal manner.
Honourable Members,
Lifestyle audits of public servants have been compulsory since 2021. As at March 2023, over 11,000 public servants in national government have undergone lifestyle audits.
The lifestyle audit process for the Members of the Executive is spearheaded by the… https://t.co/8egGggIGMA
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) September 5, 2023
“I received the same letter signed by the Director-General and Secretary of Cabinet. The Members of the Executive, including myself, have submitted consent forms for the nationally-driven process of lifestyle audits,” Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa acknowledged that the shift in service providers has caused a delay in carrying out the lifestyle audits. He expressed the expectation that the project will be completed by the conclusion of the current fiscal year.
Some members of the Assembly emphasised the need for parallel vetting processes, especially for executives in state-owned enterprises and supply chain management practitioners.
Ramaphosa acknowledged the importance of vetting and is exploring ways to expedite the process to ensure the integrity of public service employees.
He clarified that lifestyle audits are not limited to public servants but also include Members of the Executive, with a focus on maintaining proper processes and privacy during these audits.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
