Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi is expected to take decisive disciplinary action against senior government officials implicated in a damning ethics report that reveals widespread corruption, financial misconduct, and unauthorised business dealings with the state.
The report, compiled by the Gauteng Ethics Advisory Council, uncovered that senior officials lived beyond their means, drove luxury cars, and engaged in illegal procurement activities, often in direct violation of the Public Administration Management Act.
Lifestyle Audits Expose Deep-Rooted Irregularities
Lesufi commissioned lifestyle audits amid growing public concern over the lavish lifestyles of provincial executives. According to sources, the audits targeted 19 senior managers, and the findings were damning — more than one-third either failed or were deemed high-risk.
In a particularly troubling revelation, 152 public servants were found to be doing business with the state, with the Department of Education singled out as the most problematic. Of the 152, 124 employees were linked to state transactions, raising questions about procurement integrity and ethical leadership.
“There’s a pattern of underperformance, overspending on office leases, and now clear evidence of unethical conduct,” said a senior official familiar with the report. “Lesufi is left with no choice but to act.”
Departments Underspending While Province Suffers
The scandal is compounded by reports of massive underspending, with departments returning R1.8 billion to the National Treasury — money that could have been used to address Gauteng’s infrastructure backlog, youth unemployment, and service delivery gaps.
Lesufi is reportedly frustrated by this systemic failure, with several Heads of Department (HODs) and Chief Executives facing dismissal as early as next week.
ANC Pressure and Electoral Backlash Driving Reform
The ruling ANC’s dramatic decline in support — from 50% in 2019 to 34% in 2024 — has intensified the pressure on Lesufi to clean house. The party, now forced into a coalition government, faces growing internal criticism for allowing weak leadership and governance failures to fester.
The ANC Youth League has called for immediate reforms, particularly in departments responsible for youth development and bursary allocations, which have been flagged for poor performance and mismanagement.
“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.”
Ethics Council Praised for Independent Oversight
Lesufi credited the Ethics Advisory Council with spearheading the effort to root out corruption. He commended their work in initiating lifestyle audits and advising on procurement reforms.
While some irregularities — such as teachers earning small side incomes — were relatively minor, Lesufi made it clear that “all misconduct must be addressed” to restore public trust and government credibility.
The report will be officially tabled at the next Executive Council meeting, with the provincial government expected to respond within 14 days. Senior officials who fail to account for their actions or explain their finances may soon be out of office.
