[Image: Gauteng Gov / X]
The Gauteng government says that 37% of its senior officials have failed lifestyle audits after the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) was brought in to sniff around the heads of department, CEOs and supply chain management officials.
The audits further revealed that 16% of the senior officials were classified as “medium risk”, while the remaining 47% were considered “low risk”.
This move was taken to promote ethical governance and ensure that officials were not engaged in corrupt activities.
Chairperson of the Gauteng Ethics Advisory Council (GEAC), Solomuzi Mabuza, told EWN, “What is encouraging is that lifestyle audits are implemented. From our Premier to our MECs, the director-general, all our HODs and officials in high-risk roles. There are channels to report wrongdoing, and this must be noted by the residents of Gauteng.”
37% might get you a pass in school, but having more than a third of your senior officials fingered as “high risk” is a fail.
According to the report by the GEAC, municipal ethics do not prioritise “integrity management” when discharging their duties, and within the Gauteng Education Department, 124 officials were found to be doing business with the state.
Premier Lesufi speaking on lifestyle audits for HODs, senior managers and Members of the Executive Council.#GPEthicsReport#GrowingGautengTogether pic.twitter.com/RDollAwpZy
— Gauteng Provincial Gov (@GautengProvince) May 8, 2025
In response to these findings, Premier Panyaza Lesufi said that all officials in supply chain and finance functions will undergo lifestyle audits to enhance accountability and combat corruption within the provincial government.
