BusinessLive reports that lifestyle audits within the public service will soon become standard practice following the establishment of a unit tasked with strengthening oversight of ethics, integrity and discipline.  

This was recently indicated by public service and administration minister Senzo Mchunu in a reply to a parliamentary question.  The audits will test whether the lifestyle of an employee is in line with that person’s known income stream and they will be used to hold accountable those who unduly benefit from the state’s resources and procurement opportunities.  The newly established Public Administration Ethics, Integrity and Disciplinary Technical Assistance Unit has identified lifestyle audits as a priority and during its incubation phase will focus on the public service.  The audits will focus on all employees in the public administration, including directors-general.  However, it is not mandated to conduct lifestyle audits on members of the executive, namely members of cabinet and deputy ministers.  President Cyril Ramaphosa said previously that in a separate process, the entire executive and his cabinet would undergo lifestyle audits.  The new unit is currently incubated in the Department of Public Service and Administration, with efforts underway to fund and staff it properly, through a process of internal reprioritisation and reorganisation.  Its first phase of operation will commence from 1 September.

• Read the full original of Bekezela Phakathi’s report on the above story at BusinessLive
• Read too, Do lifestyle audits on all SOE board members, parliamentary committee demands, at Fin24

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