DPSA Reports Progress in Public Service Lifestyle Audits, Flags 191 Senior Managers for Investigation

The investigations span seven national and 20 provincial departments, with DPSA awaiting further information on an additional 70 SMS members—39 in national departments and 31 in provincial departments.

The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) has announced significant progress in the institutionalization of lifestyle audits within the public service, with 147 out of 160 national and provincial departments completing their audits by the end of July 2024. Speaking to the media in Pretoria, Dr. Salomon Hoogenraad-Vermaak, Chief Director of the Public Administration, Ethics, Integrity, and Disciplinary Technical Assistance Unit (PAEIDTAU), disclosed that 191 senior managers, known as Senior Management Services (SMS) members, have been referred for investigations. These investigations cover conflicts of interest, unexplained wealth, and allegations of conducting business with the state.

The investigations span seven national and 20 provincial departments, with DPSA awaiting further information on an additional 70 SMS members—39 in national departments and 31 in provincial departments. Non-compliance letters will be issued to departments that fail to provide the required information.

PAEIDTAU, which provides support and training on lifestyle audits, has collaborated with international bodies like the World Bank and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to develop relevant materials. During Public Service Month in September, the DPSA plans to conduct sessions on departmental investigations, reinforcing its commitment to maintaining ethics and integrity in the public service.

Dr. Hoogenraad-Vermaak emphasized that while discipline management is decentralized, PAEIDTAU offers technical assistance and sets norms and standards to strengthen oversight and disciplinary processes across government institutions. He reminded public servants that conducting business with the state is a criminal offense under the Public Service Regulations, 2016, and the Public Administration Management Act, 2014, with penalties including fines, imprisonment, or both.

The DPSA reiterated its commitment to the National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2020-30 (NACS), which seeks to enhance governance, oversight, and consequence management in public administration. The recently launched PAEIDTAU plays a critical role in monitoring and supporting the implementation of regulations prohibiting public service employees from conducting business with the state.