Thepremiers and the provinces’ directors-general shared the challenges,ranging from resistance from civil servants to being subjected to scrutiny, lack of internal capacity, and the cost of blanket implementation of the initiative. While Gauteng and Northern Cape use the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to conduct lifestyle audits, the Western Cape uses the services of an audit firm, while KwaZulu-Natal and the North West use internal capacity. KwaZulu-Natal and the Northern Cape highlighted the cost implications arising from the initiative that was made mandatory in 2021.
Civil servants were reported to be refusing to be part of the lifestyle audit and were using various methods to scupper the initiative by providing incomplete information or failing to make submissions to avoid being scrutinised for whether they live beyond their means. “All provinces are talking about the expensive nature of the exercise. Provinces must first build capacity internally.
It is cost-effective, it is cheaper to do it that way,” he said. Vukela also said the department had raised the issue of capacity and skills among the ethic officers. “We will provide the amendment in terms of the guide.
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We are working closely with all our partners, all the law enforcement agencies,” he said. “We are collaborating with the SIU so that the guide is being amended. We are now engaging the Memorandum of Understanding with other progressive agencies to address the issue of progressive discipline.”
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