Macpherson says Public Works Dept expanding lifestyle audits to 400 high-risk officials

CAPE TOWN - Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson said that his department was cleaning up shop by ordering lifestyle audits targeting some 400 high-risk officials in key departments.

Macpherson said they had already completed lifestyle audits on 48 senior managers, but planned to expand the process to target a wider range of employees in the department.

Macpherson briefed the media on Wednesday on his first year as minister shortly before tabling his department’s budget in the National Assembly.

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The minister said that alongside fixing physical infrastructure and state properties, the department was also cleaning up its internal systems.

He said that this included reviewing the "ghost employee phenomenon" and an audit of senior employees to ensure there were no conflicts, especially for those in procurement.

"We have now launched a wider process, focusing on 400 high-risk officials across finance, ICT, procurement, leases and projects. The first batch of 69 audits began in March and will be finalised by September 2025. The next batch will follow from October 2025 to March 2026, and the remainder by March 2027."

He said they were also conducting physical verification of employees, ensuring that every person on the payroll exists.

"Our anti-corruption unit is currently auditing the persal system across the department and EPWP to detect any fictitious employees drawing salaries without working."

Macpherson said these audits were being conducted independently, in partnership with the Special Investigating Unit, and included asset verification.