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- Lifestyle audits for cabinet ministers will now be completed in financial year 2021/22.
- The Deputy Minister of the Presidency, Thembi Siweya, said that consultation with Parliament on lifestyle audits was ongoing.
- In November 2020, the late Minister of the Presidency, Jackson Mthembu, said that lifestyle audits would be completed by the end of this month.
Lifestyle audits for cabinet ministers will be completed in financial year 2021/22 following last year’s promises that they will be completed by the end of this month.
In November 2020, the late Minister of the Presidency, Jackson Mthembu, said that lifestyle audits would be completed in March.
Four months down and this is yet to happen.
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On Thursday, the Deputy Minister of the Presidency, Thembi Siweya, said that consultation with Parliament on lifestyle audits was ongoing.
“We are committed to ensuring lifestyle audits and expanding vetting and financial monitoring to curb corruption. As part of the lifestyle audit commitment, cabinet members are subject to public scrutiny, the Constitution and the law.
“The late Minister Jackson Mthembu pledged on October 29, 2020 that consultations on the framework would be completed in March 2021. This pledge was made prior to the second wave of Covid-19. Consultations are still ongoing on the lifestyle audit framework, “Siweya said.
She was answering questions in the National Assembly along with other ministers in the economy group.
Siweya added:
Beyond all the things I’ve mentioned, the government has implemented a number of initiatives to strengthen the rule of law, combat corruption, and ensure that everyone is subject to public scrutiny. The signing of performance agreements with all ministers in November 2020 to strengthen state capacity will increase accountability. The Department of Administration and Public Service will introduce lifestyle audits for senior officials in the new financial year. The revised end date is in this regard, it will end in fiscal year 2021-22.
In response, DA MP Solly Malatsi, who posed the original question, said: “Here’s the problem. His answers focus on reaffirming and reaffirming. Let’s go back. The president’s first introduction of lifestyle audits was in 2018.
“It is therefore fair to expect that work on them began three years ago. On the contrary, the Western Cape Prime Minister [Alan Winde] You could finish the lifestyle audits in nine months. What is the real delay, because now he has missed the March deadline and is talking about the end of the financial year. “
Siweya reiterated that the process will be completed in fiscal year 2021/22.
“I also indicated that there was Covid-19 that was not planned. That commitment that the late Minister Mthembu made had to be rejected because there is a pandemic. When we say that the consultations are ongoing, we must involve all stakeholders. [The] Western Cape is a province and the framework that we are planning is for all the provinces. “
The ANC has admitted not having implemented some of its resolutions, including implementing lifestyle audits of its leaders, and has suggested that “integrity checks” be carried out on all those who wish to achieve leadership positions in the party.
In November last year, an ANC discussion paper for its midterm conference, the National General Council (NGC), again discussed the issue of lifestyle audits.
In the document, it was admitted that the party is not implementing some of its resolutions, including implementing lifestyle audits of its leaders.
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Although the affair has been longstanding, it was highlighted at the 2017 ANC elective conference.
IFP deputy Mthokozisi Nkululeko Nxumalo said the government was holding back “because they are covering up.”
“It is unacceptable to use Covid-19 as an excuse and therefore the passing of Minister Mthembu cannot be used,” he added.
Siweya said that Covid-19 was not being used as an excuse as most government programs had to be rejected.
“The ministers have signed their performance agreements. It is there for all to see. The consultation is being done to avoid mistakes,” he added.
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