Local government faces mandatory lifestyle audits to root out corruption
A joint task team works to align municipal integrity rules with standards across national departments.
Municipal officials will soon face lifestyle audits as the department of public service and administration moves to strengthen integrity and curb corruption across local government.
Work is under way to extend lifestyle audits to local government, the portfolio committee on public service and administration was told on October 6.
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The department reported on recommendations in the 2026/27 budget review, which included prioritising lifestyle audits to tighten integrity systems, improve compliance with public service regulations, and detect unethical conduct.
The department is working with the department of co-operative governance and the South African Local Government Association (Salga) on a joint task team established in June. One workstream deals with lifestyle audits, while others cover ethics and discipline.
Committee chairperson Jan de Villiers welcomed the move.
“The extension of lifestyle audits to municipalities is an important step towards strengthening integrity across the state,” said De Villiers. “Municipalities are where government is closest to the people. It is also here where corruption and weak controls have an immediate impact on services.
Lifestyle audits must, therefore, become an effective accountability mechanism across all spheres of government, with proper follow-through where red flags are identified.”
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A workshop on June 23 and June 24 brought in the special investigating unit, the financial intelligence centre, the South African Revenue Service, the Hawks and the South African Police Service to align mandates, roles and vetting.
The goal is a standard regulation under the Public Administration Management Act and an updated lifestyle audit guide.
Automated alerts will notify the public administration ethics, integrity and disciplinary technical assistance unit if ethics officers ignore flagged cases, delay referrals or fail to monitor investigations.
The department has also finished a review of incapacity leave and is talking to organised labour about changes following reports of abuse and high costs to the fiscus. The committee said experts and the government employees medical scheme should help design controls on leave and medical aid.
The National School of Government and the Centre for Public Service Innovation also briefed the committee on their performance.
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