Premier Panyaza Lesufi has unveiled shocking findings from 47 forensic investigation reports, exposing rampant corruption, fraud, irregular spending, and even “ghost employees” within the provincial government. The reports, some dating back nearly a decade, reveal systemic misconduct across multiple departments, with the Health Department flagged as the worst offender.
Key Findings
The investigations uncovered:
-
Misuse of public funds and unauthorized expenditures.
-
Ghost workers on government payrolls.
-
Unfair labor practices and dodgy procurement deals.
-
Threats against whistleblowers who attempted to expose wrongdoing.
Of the 177 pending forensic reports, 47 have been finalized, with 88 individuals already facing disciplinary or legal action. The Health Department accounted for 16 of the reports, while Treasury, Education, and the Premier’s Office each had one.
Recovery Efforts and Accountability
Lesufi confirmed that the province has recovered R2.39 million of the R3.448 million lost due to financial misconduct—nearly 60% of the defrauded amount in the last quarter. His office is pursuing civil and criminal cases, blacklisting corrupt service providers, and implementing lifestyle audits for officials across all departments.
Political Backlash and Transparency Push
The release follows pressure from the Democratic Alliance (DA), which last year filed a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application, accusing Lesufi of shielding corrupt officials. The Premier denied sitting on the reports, stating they were still under departmental review before being made public.
New Measures and Collaborations
To expedite justice, the Gauteng government is working closely with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU). Additionally, newly appointed MEC for Environment, Evan Bera (Patriotic Alliance), is set to undergo an immediate lifestyle audit as part of broader anti-corruption efforts.
Public Access to Reports
The 47 reports will be uploaded to the Premier’s Office website for public scrutiny, reinforcing the government’s commitment to transparency.
Lesufi vowed to continue rooting out corruption, stating, “We are not just uncovering wrongdoing—we are ensuring those responsible face consequences.”
