South African Public Service Advances in Conducting Lifestyle Audits to Curb Corruption

The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) in South Africa is stepping up efforts to combat corruption within the public service by institutionalising lifestyle audits, progressively ensuring that transparency and integrity form the bedrock of its operations. According to the DPSA's latest briefing, a significant number of departments have completed lifestyle audits, indicating a strong commitment to ethical governance.

In a recent press conference in Pretoria, Dr. Salomon Hoogenraad-Vermaak, Chief Director of Public Administration, Ethics, Integrity and Disciplinary Technical Assistance Unit at DPSA, addressed progress and challenges faced in rooting out financial misconduct within the public sector. Out of 160 national and provincial departments, an impressive 147 have finalized their lifestyle audits by July 2024, highlighting a significant stride towards complete institutionalisation of the process.

A worrying 191 senior managers from various departments have been flagged for investigations pertaining to conflicts of interest and indications of unexplained wealth, potentially indicating corrupt practices. These investigations will delve into subjects ranging from financial irregularities to the prohibited act of conducting business with the state.

The push for these audits and the ensuing investigations is set against a backdrop of decentralized discipline management within South Africa’s public service. Departments are vested with the accountability of managing disciplinary cases internally. Nonetheless, the PAEIDTAU, established as per the DPSA's remit, lends a crucial supporting role by setting standards, offering training and technical support, and monitoring compliance related to disciplinary matters.

The DPSA has sternly reminded public servants that any engagement in business with the state by employees is not just unethical but also criminal, carrying potential consequences of hefty fines or imprisonment. These legal boundaries are delineated in the Public Service Regulations, 2016, and further criminalised under the Public Administration Management Act, 2014.

Cooperative strategies among several government departments, including the police, justice and correctional services, along with public administration, have been formed to ensure vigorous enforcement of these regulations. This unity emphasizes the South African government's unyielding stance on combating public sector corruption.

The department's intensified focus on lifestyle audits and disciplinary management aligns with the broader scope of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2020-30 (NACS), which endeavors to enhance governance, oversight, and the enforcement of ethical conduct in public administration. This strategy is indicative of the government’s intent to not only prevent corruption but also to foster a culture of accountability and consequence management within its ranks.