Question NW1462 to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
11 June 2018 - NW1462
Vos, Mr J to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
(1) Whether, with reference to the reply of the President, Mr C M Ramaphosa, to the debate on the State of the Nation Address on 22 February 2018 to implement lifestyle audits, (a) he, (b) senior management service members in his department and/or (c) any of the heads of entities reporting to him have undergone a lifestyle audit in the past three financial years; if not, have any plans been put in place to perform such audits; if so, in each case, what are the details of the (i) date of the lifestyle audit, (ii) name of the person undergoing the audit, (iii) name of the auditing firm conducting the audit and (iv) outcome of the audit;
Reply:
Currently the Department does not conduct lifestyle audits on its members of Senior Management Services. However, the Department uses the system of financial disclosures prescribed by the Public Service Regulation 2016, Section 18 (5). The system makes provision for disclosure of the following:
- Shares
- Equity
- Loan accounts
- Other financial interests
- Income generating assets
- Trusts
- Directorships and Partnerships
- Other remunerative work outside the employees’ department
- Consultancies
- Sponsorships
- Gifts and Hospitality
- Immovable property
- Vehicles
The department has appointed an Ethics Officer and established an Ethics and Integrity Committee to deal with matters relating to ethics, fraud and corruption. It must be noted that financial interest disclosed by members of the Senior Management Services (SMS) are verified by the Public Service Commission (PSC). The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) and PSC monitor compliance and manage any conflict of interest situation that might be identified through the disclosure of financial interests.