DG defies minister’s way of life audit order

Basic schooling minister Siviwe Gwarube and the division’s director-general (DG), Mathanzima Mweli, are embroiled in a chilly struggle as Mweli refuses to be subjected to a way of life audit by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).

This is the most recent episode within the long-running turf struggle between the DA’s Gwarube and Mweli since Gwarube’s appointment after the formation of the federal government of nationwide unity in 2024.

The two have been at one another’s throats since Gwarube questioned the federal government’s R11bn college diet programme, suggesting it ought to transfer from the management of provinces and be centralised on the nationwide stage.

The two have recently been combating over the first schooling textbook provide tender value greater than R1.6bn after revelations that the division had enlisted the providers of an unqualified and inexperienced provider amongst its service suppliers.

Gwarube needs the tender to be halted after she ordered a forensic probe; Mweli has insisted it ought to go forward.

The minister continues to have interaction the DG to adjust to authorities coverage and to topic himself to the life-style audits

—  Lukhanyo Vangqa, primary schooling minister Siviwe Gwarube’s spokesperson

Sources within the division of primary schooling (DBE) this week indicated that the tensions between the minister and her DG had been so excessive that he had despatched a lawyer’s letter to her, refusing to be subjected to a way of life audit.

It is known that in that letter, Mweli cited his constitutional proper to privateness and mentioned {that a} way of life audit course of was not a authorized obligation by way of the employment contract.

This was regardless of him, in line with well-placed officers, permitting these reporting to him, resembling deputy director-generals (DDGs), the chief director, and others, to have their life probed by the SIU.

In his state of the nation handle in 2021, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared that way of life audits had been obligatory for ministers, deputy ministers, DGs and different senior authorities officers.

Gwarube, via spokesperson Lukhanyo Vangqa, mentioned the DBE had entered right into a service stage settlement with the SIU on way of life audits, with all senior officers complying other than Mweli.

“The secondment agreement was signed between the SIU and the DBE on June 15 2026,” Vangqa mentioned. “Phase 1 of the lifestyle audits has commenced, and it focuses on the DG, DDGs and those involved in high-risk areas such as supply chain management and human resource management.

“The minister continues to closely monitor progress on the lifestyle audits and will not be deterred from implementing this government policy. The secondment agreement with the SIU ends at the end of September, and the minister is hopeful that all those who have been required to subject themselves to this process will do so by the end date. Failure to do so will result in an SIU finding that deems them as high-risk individuals, and [they] could be subjected to an investigation.”

Vangqa mentioned the minister was speaking to Mweli’s legal professionals over his refusal to be audited.

“The minister continues to engage the DG to comply with government policy and to subject himself to the lifestyle audits. While this is a subject of discussion between the minister and the DG’s personal lawyers, she has implored him to abide by government policy.

“The DG by virtue of his position handles billions of rands of public procurement, and as such he must be beyond reproach; refusal to subject himself to a lifestyle audit leaves uncomfortable questions and poses an intolerable risk to public funds.”

I decline to debate workers’ way of life audits publicly and preserve that any info ought to solely be shared for lawful law-enforcement functions

—  Mathanzima Mweli, primary schooling division director-general

Mweli mentioned he was keen to endure a way of life audit however had raised “pertinent” points with those that need him to endure the method.

“Lifestyle audits have been conducted in the department for years but are not made public due to policy and legal requirements,” he mentioned.

“They must be conducted in line with the March 2021 guidelines for implementing lifestyle audits in the public service.

“The process must uphold the highest level of confidentiality, fairness, independence, due care and professionalism.

“The disclosure of confidential information to the media is viewed as a breach of these principles and basic ethical standards.

“I decline to discuss employees’ lifestyle audits publicly and maintain that any information should only be shared for lawful law-enforcement purposes.

“Whoever brought this to your attention is in breach of the policy and ethics of the public service and the constitution of our country.

“I am willing to undergo [a] lifestyle audit, as I have done with top-secret vetting, which involved even polygraph tests, provided that [it] is done lawfully as explained above.

“⁠I have raised pertinent questions and issues with those who wanted me to undergo this; I am still waiting for their answers.”

The Presidency, which is the appointing authority for DGs, had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.

However, the ANC moved to throw its weight behind Mweli.

In a statement on Friday night, the ANC said there was growing “instability” on the DBE for the reason that appointment of Gwarube.

ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said the tensions between Mweli and Gwarube had been the subject of discussions at meetings of their sub-committee on health & education this week.

“The ANC expresses deep concern over escalating instability within the department of basic education since the appointment of minister Siviwe Gwarube in 2024,” she said. “The ANC condemns political interference in administrative processes, disregard for established governance frameworks, and actions that threaten labour peace and preparations for the 2027 academic year.”

Bhengu also slammed the DA’s call for the president to take action against Mweli.

DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis made that call earlier in the week.

“The president must either act himself or give minister Gwarube the authority she needs to hold the DG accountable, including the power to suspend him if the circumstances warrant it,” Hill-Lewis said.

“Minister Gwarube is doing exactly what South Africans should expect from a responsible minister: confronting serious governance and procurement concerns, protecting public money, and making sure that millions of children still have textbooks they need when schools open in 2027.”

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