Lesufi details progress on lifestyle audits, hijacked buildings and the battle to clean up Gauteng
Gauteng Government
Gauteng is the only province to audit all HODs and CEOs, with only two reports still under review according to Lesufi
Crime Prevention Wardens, known as Amapanyapanya, support law enforcement in reclaiming crime-prone areas.
Lesufi says lifestyle audits help detect fraud, prevent corruption, and build public trust.
Premier Panyaza Lesufi faced tough questions in the Gauteng legislature about corruption and crime but remained calm and confident as he laid out the province's progress.
From lifestyle audits for top officials to efforts to tackle hijacked buildings in Johannesburg, Lesufi assured members that the government is taking real steps to promote accountability and improve safety.
Nomathemba Mokgethi of the ANC posed a hard-hitting question to Premier Lesufi:
With reports indicating that 37% of Gauteng's senior officials had failed lifestyle audits, what action would be taken?
Furthermore, did the audits reveal who posed the greatest risk among CEOs, heads of departments (HODs) and supply chain managers – and how exactly do these audits help in promoting ethical governance?
Lesufi clarified that Gauteng is leading the way nationally, being 'the only province to have conducted lifestyle audits for all HODs and CEOs using state institutions.'
'All HODs and CEOs subjected themselves to the process,' Lesufi said, noting that only four reports flagged issues needing further scrutiny.
Two of those cases remain under review by the Special Investigating Unit, and the premier expects finalisation by the end of the quarter.
He refuted the 37% failure figure, suggesting that this information was outdated and misleading.
Regarding risk profiling, Lesufi revealed that the province has now expanded the audit process to include those in supply chain management (SCM), acknowledging that this function often sits at the centre of procurement controversies.
We're now in the middle of lifestyle audits for SCM officials, and once complete, we will compare them with those of HODs.
Panyaza Lesufi
On the importance of these audits, Lesufi listed a range of benefits, from identifying unexplained wealth and potential conflicts of interest to preventing fraud and strengthening internal controls.
'This isn't just about compliance, it's about fostering a culture of ethical leadership and accountability in public service,' he said, praising the province's Anti-Corruption and Ethics Council for its role in the process.
He assured that once the SCM audit concludes, those results too will be made public.
CRIME AND HIJACKED BUILDINGS
Thabang Nkani, MPL from the Umkhonto weSizwe Party shifted the debate to inner-city crime.
He pressed Lesufi on the role of crime prevention wardens (CPWs), colloquially known as Amapanyapanya, in reclaiming hijacked buildings.
'These properties are now crime dens, drug trafficking, extortion, human trafficking, and violent crime are rife. What measurable progress have CPWs made, and how are they being held accountable?' Nkani asked.
Lesufi outlined a coordinated approach:
The SA Police Service works closely with metros, district municipalities, and the department of social development. A comprehensive plan to tackle hijacked buildings is already in place.
Panyaza Lesufi
He explained that the police can only intervene once a criminal case is opened—either by the property owner or local authorities. The CPWs, meanwhile, provide operational support, visibility, and manpower during joint operations led by law enforcement.
Addressing professionalisation and oversight, Lesufi said the Gauteng department of community safety has already implemented mechanisms including:
Oversight for CPWs
An internal affairs unit;
Targeted oversight initiatives;
A culture of proactive accountability; and
Alignment with SAPS operational standards.
When it comes to formalising CPW employment, Lesufi confirmed that the process is guided by the Public Service Act of 1994 and Public Service Regulations of 2016. Employment equity will also be a key consideration.
Finally, he assured that the CPW programme is sustainable, with funding secured through the provincial equitable share over the Medium-Term Framework.
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