Three Gauteng senior officials face dismissal after failed lifestyle audits

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has announced that three heads of department (HODs) will be removed from their positions following the outcomes of lifestyle audits conducted by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).

According to Lesufi, the officials failed to adequately respond to concerns raised in the audit reports, which form part of the Gauteng Provincial Government’s efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability in the public service.

Lesufi revealed that 37% of officials assessed through the lifestyle audit process were flagged as high-risk or non-compliant.

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The affected HODs were given an opportunity to explain the discrepancies, but their responses failed to meet the audit requirements.

“I received the final reports from the SIU, and of the four outstanding cases, three returned negative outcomes. Based on these findings, I have instructed the Director-General to initiate the process of their removal,” he said.

The lifestyle audits focus on identifying discrepancies between officials’ declared lifestyles and their known income, aiming to detect potential financial misconduct or undeclared interests. The audits form part of a broader effort to improve governance in the province.

Lesufi added that lifestyle audits will now be prioritised for officials working in supply chain and financial management roles across all Gauteng departments and public entities.

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The Office of the Premier will be the starting point for this expanded review, with investigators currently processing documents and conducting third-party verifications.

In addition to the lifestyle audit initiative, Lesufi said that 47 completed forensic reports have been made public.

These were compiled by the SIU, the National Prosecuting Authority, and the Office of the Public Protector. They form part of a broader set of 177 reports, with the remainder to be released once finalised.

The published reports detail a range of alleged irregularities, including the abuse of state resources, unauthorised expenditure, procurement violations, fraud, unfair labour practices, and personnel irregularities. Many of the reports date back several years and involve multiple departments.

Lesufi clarified that these reports were previously under departmental review and were not being withheld by the Office of the Premier, as had been suggested in some quarters.

To ensure accountability, a monitoring committee has been established within the Office of the Premier.

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It will track the implementation of recommendations from the reports, including efforts to recover misused public funds. Departments are required to submit quarterly updates on corrective actions taken.

Lesufi also confirmed ongoing collaboration with the Asset Forfeiture Unit to support the recovery of assets linked to irregular conduct.

According to the provincial government, the lifestyle audits and forensic investigations form part of a broader strategy to strengthen governance, reduce financial irregularities, and restore public trust in government operations.