Gauteng govt removes 3 senior officials after they fail lifestyle audits

JOHANNESBURG - The Gauteng government has removed three senior officials from their ‘high-risk’ positions after they failed their lifestyle audits.

Earlier in 2025, the provincial government roped in the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to conduct lifestyle audits on heads of departments (HODs), supply chain management officials, and other senior employees in high-risk roles.

It was revealed that 37% of them failed the audits and had to provide written reasons for the discrepancies in their lifestyles.

Speaking at a media briefing in Johannesburg on Wednesday, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said the SIU had completed its investigation into four HODs.

"Of the four outstanding reports of these HODs, three of them came back as failed audit outcomes and on the basis of this, I have taken a decision to remove these HODs from their positions. 

"The DG [director-general] will facilitate this process and will make the public announcement on the changes of administrative heads of departments. This reaffirms our commitment that departments must be led by people with impeccable credentials."