By Ebi Kesiena
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that all members of his cabinet, including himself, the deputy president, ministers, and deputy ministers, have agreed to undergo lifestyle audits in the 2024/2025 financial year.
This was revealed in a written response to a parliamentary question posed by Rise Mzansi MP Makashule Gana.
According to the President, the audits will be overseen by the Office of the Director-General and the Secretary of the Cabinet in the Presidency, both of whom are qualified auditors.
Ramaphosa explained that the process will begin with lifestyle reviews, which are conducted after executive members submit their financial disclosures. Should discrepancies arise or information appear incomplete, a more in-depth lifestyle investigation will follow. He said the goal is to ensure that the living standards of public officials align with their declared income.
“The lifestyle reviews are the first step of the process and are conducted subsequent to the submission of financial disclosures by members of the executive. Lifestyle investigations will follow in the event the information provided during lifestyle reviews is not satisfactory,” Ramaphosa said.
While lifestyle audits are already being used within government departments to monitor directors-general and chief financial officers, applying the same level of scrutiny to political officeholders comes with legal limitations. The President noted that these restrictions are currently under review and that executive members have been asked to voluntarily consent to the audits.
Heritage Times HT notes that calls for lifestyle audits have grown in recent years, with political parties and civil society demanding greater accountability from public officials in South Africa.
Recently, Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson disclosed that his department had initiated lifestyle audits on 400 high-risk officials involved in finance, ICT, procurement, leases, and projects. The current batch began in March and is expected to conclude in September, with another round scheduled to run through March 2026.
