Acting Social Development Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga said the lifestyle audits have not yet been completed on Sassa officials implicated in irregular awarding of a tender.
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The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has failed to comply with the remedial action of Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka to conduct lifestyle audits on 11 officials who irregularly awarded a multimillion-rand contract four years ago.
Responding to parliamentary questions this week, Acting Social Development Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga said the lifestyle audits have not yet been completed on the implicated officials because Sassa has to first develop a policy framework to guide the implementation of lifestyle reviews, audits, and investigations.
“The policy framework was finalised and approved on January 30, 2026. This approach is designed to enhance accountability, streamline oversight, and reinforce ethical standards within the Agency.”
Chikunga said Sassa was currently operating an effective automated e-Disclosure System that required all employees to annually declare their financial interests, assets, business affiliations, and related matters.
“These financial disclosures represent the initial layer of oversight, while lifestyle reviews and audits serve as secondary tools to identify anomalies, under-disclosures, or signs of living beyond one's means.”
Gcaleka, in her 2022 report, ordered Sassa to conduct periodic lifestyle audits on 11 implicated officials and take action against them for breaching the institution’s code of conduct.
She had found that Sassa should have disqualified Azande Consulting for not meeting the requirements for the door-to-door survey conducted as part of the Integrated Community Outreach Programme in the provinces over a period of three years.
This is after Sassa’s Bid Adjudication Committee failed to do due diligence for an appointment made by the Bid Evaluation Committee, before accepting and approving Azande Consulting as one of the preferred bidders.
The Bid Evaluation Committee and Bid Adjudication Committee had failed to implement controls during the evaluation and adjudication of the bid to avoid irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditure, she said.
According to Chikunga, Sassa has prioritised lifestyle audits in its 2026/27 annual performance plan.
The initiative was to have begun in April with the procurement of a service provider to conduct lifestyle reviews and audits.
“Once appointed, the e-Disclosure data will be systematically reviewed, and audits and investigations will be conducted where necessary. These aim to strengthen public trust and ensure compliance with ethical standards by identifying and addressing any potential irregularities or concerns,” said the minister.
She also said that when the lifestyle review was conducted and revealed concerns, a lifestyle audit would be initiated to further examine the identified issues.
“If the audit produces adverse findings, a formal investigation is subsequently launched to determine the nature and extent of any irregularities.”
Chikunga stated that of the 11 implicated officials, seven who were still employed by Sassa have undergone vetting with the State Security Agency.
Four officials have received security clearance certificates, one clearance is still in progress, and two are outstanding.
“The remaining four officials from the original 11 have exited Sassa’s employment through resignation or retirement,” he said.
The officials have since escaped criminal prosecution after the National Prosecuting Authority declined to prosecute, citing lack of prospects of success in the matter.
As part of her remedial actions, Gcaleka had referred the officials to the DPCI for criminal investigation for possible tender rigging and corruption.
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia was quoted a few months ago as saying the DPCI had received the referral and conducted a comprehensive investigation into possible fraud and corruption.
“The investigation was finalised, and the matter was submitted to the National Prosecuting Authority on 2024-04-03, for a prosecutorial decision. Following a review of the evidence presented, the NPA declined to prosecute on 2024-12-12, citing no prospects of successful prosecution,” Cachalia said in a written parliamentary response.
mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za