by Jack Bloom MPL – DA Member of the Oversight Committee on the Premier’s Office
Gauteng Premier David Makhura has walked back his commitment to subject himself and his MECs to lifestyle audits this year.
In a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature he says:
“President Cyril Ramaphosa has recently announced in Parliament that he has established a Task Team led by Dr Cassius Lubisi, Director General in the Presidency and comprising of senior officials from the Auditor General, the South African Revenue Service, South African Police Service, the Anti-Corruption Task Team, the Public Service Commission, the Financial Intelligence Centre and other entities.
The Task is charged with the responsibility to develop a Framework tor the Lifestyles Audits. This Framework for the Lifestyles Audits will provide much-needed guidance to all spheres of government on how to conduct lifestyle audits.
Gauteng provincial government keenly awaits the completion at this Framework ensure that our provincial lifestyle audits are done in line with legal prescripts.”
This contradicts his pledge in his State of the Province address in February where he said “I want to take a lead together with MECs to subject ourselves to lifestyle audits this year.”
Makhura waited four years into his premiership before declaring that he would institute lifestyle audits for politicians and senior officials, but it is extremely unlikely that any will be done before his term of office ends in May next year.
He does not have to wait for state agencies to do lifestyle audits as private companies can do it with the voluntary assent of individuals.
It shows yet again that the ANC in Gauteng is not serious about fighting corruption, which is rampant in provincial departments with little action taken against those like Brian Hlongwa who has been implicated in R1.2 billion corruption in the Health Department but still sits in the ANC’s Provincial Executive Committee (PEC).