Progress made in life-style audits

Government is making regular progress within the enforcement of life-style audits, with seven of the nation’s 9 provinces having made some good points, as a part of efforts to create a succesful state.

President Cyril Ramaphosa stated he would look into introducing life-style audits within the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of 2018. The life-style audit programme was initiated, following the President’s 2019 SONA dedication to construct a succesful, moral, and developmental state. The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) then developed the Lifestyle Audit Framework, accepted in 2021, with an accompanying implementation information.

The course of includes three sequential steps: life-style evaluation, life-style investigation, and life-style audit – every triggered by proof of life-style inconsistent with identified revenue. From 1 April 2021, life-style audits grew to become obligatory throughout all nationwide and provincial departments. 

The programme kinds a part of the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) 2024–2029 Strategic Priority 3: Building a Capable, Ethical, and Developmental State.

Presentations made to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration in April and June 2026 are displaying progress. Previously, the general public service was the place property have been declared on paper with little verification and misrepresentation not being adequately addressed.

Compliance was sitting at 61% in 2023 and referrals for investigation have been uncommon. 

However, the displays made to Parliament are displaying that the tide is popping with compliance at 93% nationally and protecting 8982 senior officers.

Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Western and Northern Capes have been coated within the April report back to Parliament.
In Gauteng the report said that the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) was deployed as a main audit companion. 

The report discovered that 37% of accounting officers audited have been categorised as excessive or medium threat. Additionally, the Premier of Gauteng referred 20 officers for additional SIU investigation following audit findings. In addition, the playing habits of public servants have been recognized as a systemic threat requiring pressing intervention. Added to that, ethics consciousness periods have been prolonged to service suppliers, councillors, and civil society.

KwaZulu-Natal had 100% Senior Management Service (SMS) monetary disclosure compliance achieved for 5 consecutive years. In addition, the provincial authorities’s Forensic Investigation Services Unit (reporting on to the Premier since 2020) accomplished 159 investigations. To date, 186 disciplinary circumstances have been carried out and 9 legal circumstances have been opened whereas seven civil restoration processes have been put in place.

In the Western Cape, the Premier Alan Winde and all 11 provincial MECs, together with their spouses and life companions, have been subjected to 4 rounds of complete, unbiased life-style audits since 2020.

In the Northern Cape, a 38% non-submission fee has been acknowledged with the present audits within the province not protecting spouses and dependents. With this  hole by which hidden property can move undetected, the province is proposing that this be addressed. The province has known as for the SIU to be given full proclamation powers.

In June the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, and Free State made displays to  the Committee.

In Mpumalanga, a Provincial Anti-Corruption Coordinating Committee (PACCC) was  established and is made up of departmental officers, district municipalities, and provincial public entities. 

Ethics officers and investigators have been skilled by the DPSA and the Ethics Institute.  In addition, life-style audit course of movement formalised; full SMS monetary disclosures for 2024/25 have been accomplished. In addition, the vetting of accounting officers was reported.

In the Free State, the report covers implementation progress, challenges affecting the rollout, and proposed guideline enhancements.

Compliance is now at 93% nationally, protecting 8 982 senior officers. The DPSA framework is being examined, challenged, and proposed for growth by provinces themselves. The SIU is now a routine companion in integrity infrastructure. The central disciplinary registry will shut the revolving door. Lifestyle audits -once an idea on a coverage paper- at the moment are a lived institutional actuality throughout South Africa’s provinces. The state is studying to verify itself.

All seven provincial displays instantly assist SONA 2026 commitments on constructing a succesful state and the anti-corruption drive.

In the 2026 SONA, President Ramaphosa stated an moral, succesful and developmental state is required to construct a stronger South Africa.

“A capable state needs committed and honest public servants with the right skills and a deep culture of service,” stated the President. – SAnews.gov.za