​Qaqambile Mdledle
Gauteng Premier David Makhura has assured residents that the provincial government is strengthening its fight against corruption. 
Delivering his annual State of the Province Address at the Gauteng Provincial Legislature under strict regulations of Covid-19, Makhura said the provincial government will focus on delivering results and improving the quality of life of residents as well as enhancing ethics, integrity and accountability. 
Makhura said government remained committed to enhancing integrity and ethics in the Gauteng City Region. 
“The procurement irregularities and corruption allegations during the pandemic have forced us to go back and review the efficacy of all the anti-corruption measures. 
“We will strengthen our prevention, detection, investigation and resolution procedures and push ahead with the institutionalisation of clean governance” he added. 
He said the allegations and actual incidents of corruption and irregular procurement during COVID-19 have reversed any gains made in the past five years and have significantly eroded public trust. 
“We must go back to the drawing board. Members of the Executive Council have submitted their details for the lifestyle audit that are being conducted by the State Security Agency. The outcome of the lifestyle audit will be made public” said Makhura. 
In addition, the provincial government has expanded vetting of senior officials to the level of supply chain management officials. To this end, 65% of senior managers and 70% of supply chain management officials have been vetted by the State Security Agency and the rest shall be completed this year. 
Premier Makhura said he was determined to ensure that the Office of the Premier led by example in all respects. 
The Office of the Premier and the Provincial Treasury obtained clean audit reports for eight consecutive years since 2012/13. 
He however, expressed his concern that there was some regression in the 2019/2020 financial year across all departments and entities. 
“We are not going to retreat from our goal of seeking to achieve 100% clean audit outcomes. The sixth administration has a duty to maintain and even surpass the track record of the previous administration. 
“During the fifth administration, we improved clean audit outcomes from 54% to 65% and the balance of the departments and entities obtained unqualified audit reports. 
We eliminated disclaimers and adverse findings completely from the audit outcomes of the province because we cracked the whip,” said Makhura.​