ANC Free State: Lifestyle audits without accountability ‘waste of time’

Premier Mxolisi Dukwana’s efforts to pull the Free State from the clutches of corrupt syndicates through lifestyle audits will be fruitless unless there’s consequence management.

This is according to University of Free State (UFS) politics expert, Professor Sethulego Matebesi.

Most of the country’s worst-performing municipalities are in the Free State.

The governing party in the province insist that stopping corruption through lifestyle audits is its top priority.

‘Efforts look good on paper’

Matebesi says there has been a lack of action against culprits for decades, and things need to be done differently.

“They can embark on audits, which look good on paper, but they know who the culprits are. Why not take action against them?

“They want to be seen to be doing something but whether that will bring tangible results in the fight against corruption is something else,” he said.

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The African National Congress (ANC) discussed lifestyle audits among its officials and leaders as far back as 2016.

However, there has been no significant shift in combating corruption through audits.

In his first Sona in 2018, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that his executive will be the first to be audited, but nothing has come out of that undertaking either.

The bar ‘is too low’

Addressing Free State members on lifestyle audits last week, Lejweleputswa regional chairperson Xolile Toki insisted that branches are failing to vet candidates.

“The problem is that the bar has been lowered in the movement. We have not actually lowered the bar, we have thrown it out completely.

“Anyone that comes in and out in the organisation, we fail to vet people at the branches. Audits are going to help us become sharpened and well-oiled to serve our people selflessly.”

A long road lies ahead as the province tries to shake off former premier and ANC chairperson Ace Magashule’s influence.

Although strides were made in areas such as education, under his watch corruption and the near collapse of municipalities engulfed the Free State.

In his Sopa speech in February, Dukwana promised to create a task team to fight fraud and corruption.

He promised forensic investigations into all government housing projects and lifestyle audits.

“We are not satisfied with our progress [on audits] and will secure external assistance to accelerate lifestyle audits.

“In addition, an immediate review of the vetting status of officials dealing with procurement will be conducted.

“Officials who deal with these functions must be in possession of valid security clearance,” he said.

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