Home Affairs conducts lifestyle audits on 476 officials to combat corruption
The Home Affairs department has conducted lifestyle audits on some of its officials.
Image: Armand Hough Independent Newspapers
The Department of Home Affairs has completed 476 lifestyle audits on its officials in a bid to fight against corruption.
Employees flagged during the process have been referred for vetting, and disciplinary action is expected to follow where wrongdoing is confirmed.
The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs has welcomed the move, saying it is a necessary step to identify and root out rogue elements in the department.
“We welcome the 476 lifestyle audits concluded for DHA officials. This project must be extended to a wider employee population within the department to root out any corrupt and rogue elements within the department,” said committee chairperson Mosa Chabane.
The audits revealed that lower-level employees are more likely to be highly indebted, which exposes them to the risk of being tempted by criminal syndicates. The department has since referred those identified for further vetting. The committee responded by urging the department to develop interventions that protect vulnerable staff members from being lured into selling official documents.
Chabane stressed that corruption in the department, particularly the fraudulent approval of documents, undermines national security. “The committee is steadfast that the DHA plays a critical homeland security role, and the selling of the departmental documents is unacceptable. These selfish officials have shown their lack of patriotism, which is treasonous. Action should be taken against any acts of criminality,” he said.
The committee also welcomed a notable increase in the dismissal of officials implicated in fraudulent activities but emphasised the need for law enforcement to act swiftly in prosecuting those involved.
Despite these efforts, the committee noted that concern remains over the department’s internal capacity to fight corruption effectively. The Counter Corruption and Security Services unit is reportedly operating at just 28% of its approved staffing levels. The committee said this severely undermines the unit’s effectiveness and called on the department to “engage with National Treasury to find ways to further capacitate the service in line with the National Development Plan.”