Is it working?

Lifestyle audits are now widely implemented in government. The DPSA reported that by September 2025, 8,982 senior officials had undergone lifestyle reviews. Of these, 117 cases were referred for internal departmental investigation and 24 were flagged by the Presidency for suspected undeclared income or hidden assets. In its 2024/2025 report, the Gauteng Ethics Advisory Council disclosed that of the 19 audited directors-general, heads of departments and CEOs of Gauteng provincial entities, 37% were classified as high risk or failed the assessment, 16% were medium risk and 47% low risk. As a result, Premier Panyaza Lesufi dismissed three heads of departments from their positions for failing lifestyle audits.

Actions

During the first year of implementation (2021/2022), which focused on capacity building, more than 200 ethics officers in the public service were trained in conducting lifestyle reviews. For 2023/2024 government focused on capacitating investigators in the public service on how to conduct lifestyle investigations. In May 2024, more than 120 lifestyle audit investigators from national departments and more than 175 from provincial departments received specialised training. In March 2025, the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration promised to investigate why lifestyle audits were not being carried out in some parts of government.

Are there plans?

With plans for national and provincial level lifestyle audits drawn up, the next step is to roll out audits to municipal employees. In 2024, Parliament’s Joint Committee on Ethics and Members Interests recommended that the following should be subjected to lifestyle audits: presiding officers of both houses; chairpersons of all committees; chief whips of all political parties; any MP that has been red-flagged by the e-disclosure system; and any MP identified by the joint committee, In January 2025, the SIU recommended implementing lifestyle audits for supply chain management officials in the cities of Tshwane and Johannesburg. The SIU also noted an increase in requests for it to carry out lifestyle audits.

President Ramaphosa revealed that for 2024/25, members of the executive of the seventh administration all consented to lifestyle audits. The Presidency also reported that new members of the executive in the 7th administration submitted their financial interest disclosures by 2 September 2024 and the process of verification and analysis of information was underway.

In December 2025, the Department of Public Service and Administration reported a lack of investigating capacity to see the lifestyle audit process through. As a result, the department is considering establishing a team of highly skilled investigators who would help other departments carry out lifestyle audits. The department is also considering partnering with the SIU.

Is it on the agenda?

In 2021, government adopted guidelines for lifestyle audits of public servants in both national and provincial departments and state-owned enterprises.

Goals

Lifestyle audits are meant to prevent and detect fraud and corruption in the public service and to ensure that the lifestyles of government employees are in line with their level of income.

Departments / Govt Institutions

Department of Public Service and Administration The Presidency