Progress in Public Service Lifestyle Audits Under DPSA Framework

Posted 17 June 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Governance

Brought to you by SAnews: In terms of the Public Service Regulations, 2016 and the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) Lifestyle Audit Framework of 2021, lifestyle audits have become a compulsory regulatory tool, with national compliance reaching 93% across provincial and national departments.

The DPSA Lifestyle Audit Framework, issued under the Public Service Act, No. 103 of 1994, mandates a three-step sequential process triggered by evidence of a lifestyle inconsistent with an official’s known income: lifestyle review, lifestyle investigation, and lifestyle audit. Recent presentations to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration highlight the progress and enforcement metrics across various provinces:

  • Gauteng: The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) acted as the primary audit partner. The audits revealed that 37% of audited accounting officers were classified as high or medium risk, resulting in 20 officials being referred for further SIU investigation. Gambling habits among public servants were identified as a systemic risk requiring urgent intervention.
  • KwaZulu-Natal: The province achieved 100% Senior Management Service (SMS) financial disclosure compliance for five consecutive years. The Forensic Investigation Services Unit completed 159 investigations, leading to 186 disciplinary cases, nine criminal cases, and seven civil recovery processes.
  • Western Cape: The Premier and all 11 provincial MECs, including their spouses and life partners, have undergone four rounds of independent lifestyle audits since 2020.
  • Northern Cape: The province reported a 38% non-submission rate and highlighted a regulatory gap where audits do not currently cover spouses and dependents, proposing framework expansions to address this loophole.
  • Mpumalanga and Free State: Mpumalanga established a Provincial Anti-Corruption Coordinating Committee (PACCC) and completed full SMS financial disclosures for the 2024/25 period, while the Free State presented implementation challenges and proposed guideline improvements.

The nationwide compliance rate of 93% marks a significant increase from the 61% compliance recorded in 2023. The DPSA is utilizing these provincial reports to refine the framework, close regulatory loopholes—such as the exclusion of dependents in certain provincial audits—and operationalize a central disciplinary registry to prevent non-compliant officials from moving between departments.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: No direct individual compliance obligations arise for private-sector professionals; impact is channelled through public-sector integrity frameworks.
  • For your business: Professional service firms, contractors, and civil society organizations engaging with provincial governments must note that ethics awareness and compliance sessions are being extended to service providers, increasing the scrutiny on third-party business relationships with the state.
  • For your clients: Clients operating as public servants or senior management service (SMS) members must ensure immediate and accurate completion of financial disclosures, noting that non-disclosure or inconsistencies will trigger automatic referrals to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and potential civil asset recovery processes.

Originally published at https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/progress-made-lifestyle-audits

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