No lifestyle audits for Gauteng Health Department

28 November 2023

No lifestyle audits have been done on any Gauteng Health Department official as the Premier’s Office has been slow to initiate them.

Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko disclosed this in a written response to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature.

According to the MEC:

“The department has requested the Office of the Premier to assist with the lifestyle audit for 2021/2022 for the officials as potential candidates for lifestyle audit based on incongruency between their wealth. asset accumulation and remuneration. The department also identified some officials through investigation request from one of the district offices in 2023.”

The Premier’s Office has all the forensic services but has yet to initiate the requested lifestyle audits.

This shows yet again that Premier Panyaza Lesufi is all bark and no bite. He has promised lifestyle audits but won’t do them because they could implicate ANC cadres.

Compare this to the DA-run Western Cape government where lifestyle audits are taken seriously and expedited.

Lifestyle audits are a vital tool in fighting corruption.

There should be no delay in implementing lifestyle audits to root out the pervasive corruption that leads to poor treatment of patients in crumbling hospitals.

Issued by Jack Bloom, DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, 28 November 2023