Question NW1440 to the MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATION

Reply:

BACKGROUND

With the adoption of the Guide on implementing lifestyle audits in the Public Service, lifestyle audits for the Public Service became compulsory from 1 April 2021. When implementing the Guide, national and provincial departments follow a three step approach, starting with lifestyle reviews. When red flags (unexplained wealth, conflicts of interest, etc) are identified during this step, the department will move to the next step, which is lifestyle investigations. This step may lead to disciplinary action if an irregularity or wrong-doing was detected (and if action is required in terms of law and prescripts). When an investigation prove to be challenging, a department will move to the last step, namely a lifestyle audit. This step involves the utilisation of specialist auditors that will employ specialist tools to trace unexplained wealth (for example). Given the three step approach, the lifestyle audit process can end with a lifestyle review (when no red flags are identified). If investigations are conducted, the timeframe for completion will depend on the complexity of the case. There is therefore no due date for completion of lifestyle audits. However, lifestyle reviews are to be completed at the end of each financial year for SMS members, and every second year for other categories.

RESPONSE

(1) (a) The national departments and provincial departments that have not started to conduct lifestyle audits:

(i) Not started to conduct lifestyle audits:

National departments:

Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Correctional Services, Employment and Labour, Government Communication and Information Systems, Higher Education and Training, Independent Police Investigative Directorate, Justice and Constitutional Development, Military Veterans, The Presidency, Rural Development and Land Reform, Science and Innovation, Sport, Arts and Culture, Statistics South Africa, Tourism, Traditional Affairs, Transport, Water and Sanitation, Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities.

 

Provincial departments:

Eastern Cape: Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Education, Health, Human Settlement, Provincial Treasury, Roads and Public Works, Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Safety and Liaison, Social Development, Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Transport.

Free State: Agriculture, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Education, Health, Human Settlements, Office of the Premier, Police, Roads and Transport, Provincial Treasury, Public Works and Infrastructure, Social Development, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation.

Gauteng: Agriculture and Rural Development, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Community Safety, Economic Development, Education, E-Government, Health, Infrastructure Development, Office of the Premier, Provincial Treasury, Roads and Transport, Social Development.

Limpopo: Agriculture and Rural Development, Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Education, Health, Office of the Premier, Provincial Treasury, Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure, Social Development, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Transport and Community Safety.

Mpumalanga: Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs, Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Culture, Sport and Recreation, Economic Development and Tourism, Education, Human Settlement, Provincial Treasury, Public Works, Roads and Transport, Social Development.

North West: Community Safety and Transport Management, Culture, Arts and Traditional Affairs, Education and Sports Development, Finance, Economy and Enterprise Development, Local Government and Human Settlements, Office of the Premier, Public Works and Roads, Rural, Environment and Agriculture Development, Social Development, Tourism.

Northern Cape: Education, Environmental Affairs and Nature Conservation, Economic Development and Tourism, Health, Office of the Premier, Provincial Treasury, Roads and Public Works, Social Development, Sport, Arts and Culture, Transport, Safety and Liaison.

Western Cape: Agriculture, Community Safety, Education, Human Settlements, Local Government, Social Development, Transport and Public Works.

(ii) Conducted lifestyle audits:

National departments:

Basic Education, Civilian Secretariat for Police Service, Communications and Digital Technologies, Cooperative Governance, Health, Government Technical Advisory Centre, Environmental Affairs, Forestry and Fisheries, Human Settlements, Home Affairs, International Relations and Cooperation, National Prosecuting Authority, National Treasury, National School of Government, Office of the Chief Justice, Office of the Public Service Commission, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Public Enterprises, Public Service and Administration, Public Works and Infrastructure, Small Business Development, Social Development, South African Police Service, Trade, Industry and Competition.

Provincial departments:

Eastern Cape: Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Office of the Premier.

Gauteng: Human Settlements, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation

Mpumalanga: Office of the Premier

North West: Health

Northern Cape: Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (SMS completed, rest in progress), Cooperative Governance (in progress), Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs.

Western Cape: Cultural Affairs and Sport, Economic Development and Tourism, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Health, Provincial Treasury.

(2) Of the six provinces (above) that completed lifestyle audits or indicated that they were in the process of conducting lifestyle audits:

(a) Provinces that completed lifestyle audits:

Eastern Cape: Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Office of the Premier.

Gauteng: Human Settlements, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation

Mpumalanga: Office of the Premier

North West: Health

Northern Cape: Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs.

Western Cape: Cultural Affairs and Sport, Economic Development and Tourism, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Health and Provincial Treasury. The Western Cape Province indicated that they have proceeded to lifestyle investigations to address identified conflicts of interest.

(b) Provinces that are still in the process of conducting lifestyle audits:

Northern Cape: Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (SMS completed, rest in progress) and Cooperative Governance (in progress).

(3) Departments who detected no red flags during the lifestyle review process is regarded to have finalised their lifestyle audit process. All departments are expected to complete lifestyle reviews for SMS members at the end of each financial year, and that for the other categories at the end of the second year cycle when they are performing lifestyle audits on those employees. When investigations and audits are taking place (thus, lifestyle investigations and lifestyle audits), no time frame was set, as the process will be guided by the complexity of the case. However, the Public Administration Ethics, Integrity and Disciplinary Technical Assistance Unit will monitor completion of investigations and audits.

End