Parliament has raised concerns over the slow pace of lifestyle audit investigations across the public service. According to an update presented to the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration, fewer than half of the cases identified through lifestyle audits are currently under investigation.
That finding has sharpened questions around accountability, especially as lifestyle audits have been promoted as a key tool to detect corruption and improve integrity in government. The latest feedback suggests that while the system is in place, implementation remains uneven.
Committee Says Oversight has Intensified
Portfolio Committee chairperson Jan de Villiers said the committee increased its oversight through meetings held in March and April with the Department of Public Service and Administration, the Special Investigating Unit and provincial departments.
De Villiers said the committee had seen some progress in the uptake of lifestyle audits, but warned that major gaps remain. He said the low number of active investigations was a serious concern and added that consequence management was still limited and often inconsistent.
Concerns Over Weak Follow-Through
The committee has made it clear that it is not satisfied with the pace or quality of implementation. De Villiers said Parliament does not believe follow-through is happening with the consistency, speed and transparency required.
He also warned that lifestyle audits risk becoming little more than a compliance exercise if they are not backed by proper enforcement. In the committee’s view, investigations must lead to sanctions where wrongdoing is proven. Without that, the process loses credibility and public trust takes another hit.
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