Lifestyle audits of Senior Staff in the Department of Public Works & Infrastructure underway

As part of risk management efforts within the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI), with the assistance of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), I can confirm that lifestyle audits have been conducted on senior management officials within DPWI.

Earlier this week, a report was submitted to me on the progress of lifestyle audits for senior management within the department. The progress of this important task is welcomed.

I requested the SIU’s assistance to conduct lifestyle audits at the DPWI. The SIU commenced with the lifestyle audits in January this year in line with a secondment agreement.

The regulatory framework which guided the audit included the Constitution of South Africa, the Public Service Act, the Public Administration Act, the Public Service Regulations and the Protection of Personal Information Act.

Documentation such as integrity forms and supporting documents were received from 47 staff members, of this number, 47 officials submitted complete information while 13 officials are still required to submit outstanding documentation.

Information checked during the process of lifestyle audits included whether senior management members in the department held any positions/directorships at companies, properties registered in officials’ names, financial disclosures and whether officials were registered on government’s Central Supplier Database.

The lifestyle audit also included verification of criminal records for senior staff members. During the SIU’s work on the lifestyle audits, the SAPS Criminal Record Centre was consulted and of 60 DPWI staff members, 58 were found to have no criminal record. Preliminary checks indicate that the remaining two officials were possibly linked to a criminal record. Fingerprints have been collected from the two officials and have been submitted to the SAPS Criminal Record Centre for verification.

A review has been conducted of the 47 completed staff submissions and draft reports for each individual have been compiled. This process is in the finalisation stage.

The outcomes of the lifestyle audits is expected to be finalised in the coming months.

In terms of the staff members who have not yet supplied full information for their lifestyle audits, the SIU has recommended that the department investigate further to ascertain why these staff members have not yet submitted all their information.

In terms of the lifestyle audits for myself and the deputy Minister, this process is being led by the Presidency and we await further details on this process and stand ready to fully comply and submit the required information for this process.

Financial disclosure

Earlier this week, I also signed off a report and wrote a letter to the Acting Chairperson of the Public Service Commission, Professor Somadoda Fikeni confirming that for the 2021/22 financial year, all designated employees have submitted their financial disclosures.

Each year, in terms of the Public Service Regulations of 2016, designated employees are required to submit their financial interests.

A total of 183 Senior Members in service of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) have accordingly submitted their financial disclosures for the period 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022.

This means that 100% of Senior Managers in service of the Department as at 31 March 2022 submitted as per the framework through the e-Disclosure portal.

I can therefore confirm that the Department has fully complied and submitted all financial disclosures to the Public Service Commission within the stipulated time frame.

As part of building a capable and ethical state, I am pleased with the progress of the lifestyle audits and the fact that all staff required to submit their financial disclosures have done so.

In those cases where staff have not yet submitted full information for their lifestyle audits, I intend to work with the Acting Director General to ensure that all the necessary and complete information is submitted to the SIU to complete this process as soon as possible.

It is also my hope that the finalisation of the lifestyle audits will reveal that staff members have conducted themselves in an ethical manner and with integrity as they are entrusted in the public service to ensure that they conduct their work with the highest level of integrity. Where there is cause to act against staff members, I will be keeping track of this work to ensure that action is taken where needed.

Source: Government of South Africa