Latest news with #GautengEthicsAdvisoryCouncil
The Star
12-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Lesufi set to fire senior officials as Ethics Report Exposes misconduct and lavish lifestyles
Sifiso Mahlangu | Published 6 hours ago Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi is preparing to dismiss several senior officials following revelations of widespread misconduct and financial irregularities within the provincial administration. The move comes after a damning report by the Gauteng Ethics Advisory Council exposed how high-ranking government figures were living well beyond their means and engaging in illegal business dealings with the state. According to sources close to the matter, the axe is expected to fall as early as next week on a number of heads of department (HODs) and chief executives. The lifestyle audits, commissioned amid growing concern over senior officials driving luxury vehicles and maintaining opulent lifestyles inconsistent with their official salaries, confirmed deep-rooted ethical breaches. The ethics report found that out of 19 senior managers audited, more than a third either failed outright or were marked as high-risk. The situation has raised serious questions about the integrity of provincial leadership and the enforcement of governance standards. The report also revealed that 152 public servants were actively doing business with the government — a direct violation of the Public Administration Management Act, which prohibits such conduct. The education department emerged as the most problematic, with 124 employees flagged for transacting with the state. Beyond ethics violations, Lesufi is reportedly frustrated with poor departmental performance. Several departments underspent their allocated budgets, leading to the return of R1.8 billion to the National Treasury — a significant setback for service delivery in a province grappling with infrastructure and social challenges. Insiders say this has compounded pressure on the premier to take decisive action.' There's a pattern of underperformance, overspending on office leases, and now clear evidence of unethical conduct,' said a senior government source. 'Lesufi is left with no choice but to act.' The final straw appears to be a combination of electoral backlash and internal ANC pressure. The party's support in Gauteng plummeted from 50% in 2019 to 34% in the 2024 elections, forcing it into a coalition government. This political blow has prompted calls from within the ANC, particularly the Youth League, to urgently reform the provincial administration and remove officials hindering progress, especially in departments tasked with youth development and bursaries. 'You can't lose public support like that and continue with business as usual,' said a source close to the premier. 'Some of these officials have become complacent and detached from the urgency needed to fix the province.' Lesufi has credited the independent ethics council with driving efforts to clean up government, praising their role in initiating lifestyle audits and advising on procurement and local governance reforms. While some of the flagged transactions in the education sector were minor, such as teachers moonlighting during marking or selling small goods to schools, Lesufi said all irregularities must be scrutinised. The report will be formally tabled at the next executive council meeting, and Lesufi's administration has committed to respond within 14 days.
IOL News
12-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Lesufi set to fire senior officials as Ethics Report Exposes misconduct and lavish lifestyles
Panyaza Lesufi According to sources, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi is expected to fire a number of heads of department and chief executives. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi is preparing to dismiss several senior officials following revelations of widespread misconduct and financial irregularities within the provincial administration. The move comes after a damning report by the Gauteng Ethics Advisory Council exposed how high-ranking government figures were living well beyond their means and engaging in illegal business dealings with the state. According to sources close to the matter, the axe is expected to fall as early as next week on a number of heads of department (HODs) and chief executives. The lifestyle audits, commissioned amid growing concern over senior officials driving luxury vehicles and maintaining opulent lifestyles inconsistent with their official salaries, confirmed deep-rooted ethical breaches. The ethics report found that out of 19 senior managers audited, more than a third either failed outright or were marked as high-risk. The situation has raised serious questions about the integrity of provincial leadership and the enforcement of governance standards. The report also revealed that 152 public servants were actively doing business with the government — a direct violation of the Public Administration Management Act, which prohibits such conduct. The education department emerged as the most problematic, with 124 employees flagged for transacting with the state.
News24
08-05-2025
- Business
- News24
Delayed vetting, corruption highlighted in Gauteng state of ethics report
The Biennial 2025 Gauteng State of Ethics Report revealed gaps in vetting senior government managers, with some officials still unvetted. The report, led by the Gauteng Ethics Advisory Council, emphasised ethical governance and transparency and highlighted delays in the vetting process. Premier Panyaza Lesufi said he would address the findings, stating the report strengthened efforts to combat corruption and promote accountability. Many senior managers within Gauteng's government departments have yet to be vetted, or have not submitted their vetting forms. This, according to the Biennial 2025 Gauteng State of Ethics Report. It also found that hundreds of government officials were doing business with the state, despite this being prohibited. The report, released on Thursday, is a review of ethical governance within the provincial government. It was assessed by the Gauteng Ethics Advisory Council, an independent, civil society-led body led by chartered accountant Dr Terence Nombembe. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said the council was responsible for combating and eradicating corruption. He added it played a key role in proactively implementing measures to prevent and detect unethical practices, 'ensuring that our primary priority is enhancing the quality of life for the most vulnerable in Gauteng'. Lesufi added: 'More importantly, this initiative strengthens transparency, ensuring that the public remains informed about the actions taken by the Gauteng provincial government to address unethical conduct.' According to the report, senior management services were mandated to undergo vetting, which was critical because it prevented and detected conflicts of interest and corrupt practices before they occurred. The State Security Agency is responsible for this vetting. The report found that 17 members had not yet submitted their vetting forms. Three of these officials work in the Department of Agriculture, Gauteng Treasury, while one official and 13 employees of the provincial Department of Roads and Transport did not submit their vetting forms. Below is a breakdown per department of the vetting of senior management services: Agriculture: Total 31: Vetted - five, submitted - 23, and not yet submitted - three. Community Safety: Total 27: Vetted - 10, submitted, 17. e-Governance: Total 39: Vetted - 13, submitted - 26. Economic Development: Total 36: Vetted - 0, submitted - 36. Education: Total 116: Vetted - 21, submitted - 95. Gauteng Cogta: Total 31: Vetted - four, submitted- 27. Gauteng Treasury: Total 73: Vetted - 24, submitted - 48, not yet submitted - one. Health: Total 109: Vetted - 17, submitted, 92. Human Settlements: Total 56: Vetted - 23, submitted - 33. Infrastructure Development: Total 63: Vetted - 24, submitted - 39. Office of the Premier: Total 71: Vetted -14 submitted, 57. Roads and Transport: Total 40: Vetted - three, submitted, 24, not yet submitted - three. Social Development: Total 31: Vetted - five, submitted - 23, not yet submitted - 13. Sports: Total 23: Vetted - four, submitted - 19, not yet submitted - three. As of October 2024, 750 senior management services officials were in the Gauteng government. From this, 732 had been vetted or were in the process of submitting. The chairperson of the Provincial Audit Committee, Stanley Ngobeni, said the vetting process remained a concern due to the 'speed at which the vetting is done'. 'Some [of these processes] take up to five years - and by the time they have been vetted, they are no longer in the system,' he added. The research also found that 152 officials within the departments were conducting business with the state, which is prohibited by the Public Administration Management Act, 2014. Section 8 (2) states, 'government employees are strictly prohibited from conducting business with the state'. The officials include 124 managers in the Department of Education, 16 in the Department of Health, nine in infrastructure development, two in human settlements, and one in roads and transport. Lesufi said he was proud of the report and would respond to it within 14 days.
IOL News
08-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Gauteng Premier Lesufi condemns R1. 8 billion budget underspend amid community needs
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, who addressed the media during the release of the State of Ethics Report on Thursday, expressed concern over budget underspending. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has condemned his administration for returning about R1.8 billion to the National Treasury after underspending on its annual budget. Speaking at a media briefing on Thursday while receiving the second Biennial State of Ethics Report from the Gauteng Ethics Advisory Council (GEAC), Lesufi acknowledged a marginal improvement in financial management but said returning unspent funds amid rising community needs cannot be justified. The report outlined key interventions aimed at promoting integrity, transparency and accountability within the Gauteng government. The GEAC provided independent oversight, advice, advocacy, and civil society mobilisation on fighting corruption and promoting integrity in the province. Although the government returned the funds, Lesufi described this as a step forward in enhancing the province's financial management.
Eyewitness News
08-05-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
Over 150 Gauteng govt officials doing business with State despite it being criminal offence
JOHANNESBURG - More than 150 officials in the Gauteng government are doing business with the state despite that being a criminal offence. Section eight of the Public Administration Act prohibits all government employees from scoring tenders or any form of contract with the state. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi is on Thursday morning receiving an independent report highlighting the state of ethics and corruption in his government. The Gauteng State of Ethics Report has revealed the provincial education department is the leading offender in awarding contracts or entering into unethical agreements with government employees. Out of 152 employees identified as conducting business with the state, 124 are linked to dealings with the Gauteng Department of Education. Other departments implicated in similar practices include the sport, health, and infrastructure development. Chairperson of the Gauteng Ethics Advisory Council Solomuzi Mabusela said the ongoing unethical behaviour by government employees is a cause for concern. 'We are going to need to work harder to track those who are sophisticated in hiding their operations in doing business with the state. Departments need to finalise these investigations so that appropriate action can be taken as public servants are prohibited from doing business with the state.' He urges the provincial government to eliminate these unethical practices.
