Lerato Mailoane
To clamp down on the mismanagement of funds, Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi will remove three Heads of Departments (HOD) following failure to comply with lifestyle audits.
Addressing the media, Premier Lesufi said that 37% were categorised as high-risk or failed the assessment following an investigation conducted by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
Lesufi said officials whose lifestyles were found to be inconsistent with the audit findings were given an opportunity to provide explanations, but they failed to do so.
"Over the weekend, I received the last reports from the SIU, and three of the four HODs do not comply.  I have now directed the Director General (DG) to engage with the relevant HODs so that they can conclude this process. Of the four outstanding reports of these HODs, three of them came back again as failed audit outcomes. 
"On the basis of this, I've decided to immediately remove these HODs from their positions. The DG will facilitate this process and make the public announcement on the changes of administrative heads of department."
The Premier said this will ensure that departments are led by people with impeccable credentials. 
At the same time, the Premier has requested the SIU to prioritise lifestyle audits for all officials in Supply Chain Management and Financial Management roles across Gauteng Provincial Government departments and entities.
"Given the scale of this exercise, the SIU will submit reports to departments starting with the Office of the Premier. Currently, investigators are collating outstanding documents, analysing them and compiling submitted information, conducting third-party verification and finalising individual audit reports."
During the briefing the Premier said the provincial government has also made public forty-seven (47) finalised forensic investigation reports publicly available, following investigations by the SIU, the National Prosecuting Authority and the Public Protector.
This, he said shows government's unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and the fight against corruption. 
"These reports form part of a larger set of 177 investigations, with the remaining reports also to be made public once finalised. Consistent with our previous communications, these reports date back to 2016, predating my appointment as the Premier. 
"Contrary to misconceptions, the reports were not withheld in the Premier's office. Instead, they were with the respective departments, which are at various stages of reviewing the contents and implementing the recommendations."
"These reports, from multiple departments, cover a range of investigations including alleged cases of abuse of state resources, irregular and unauthorised expenditure, theft, unfair labour practices, ghost employees, procurement irregularities, suspected fraud, human resource irregularities, assault and death threats and corruption."
In addition, a committee in the Office of the Premier has been established to track the implementation of the recommendations from those reports including financial recoveries, through quarterly reports submitted to the Premier and the Provincial Anti-Corruption Coordinating Committee. 
"Additionally, the Office of the Premier is supporting departments to prioritise fund recovery with progress monitored by the Gauteng Audit Committee.
"To strengthen recovery efforts, the office has already enhanced collaboration with the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU). The AFU has reaffirmed its readiness to support the GPG in asset recovery," added Lesufi.