Gov’t expands asset declaration net to high-risk officials

Spira Tlhankane | Monday March 23, 2026 06:00

Presenting his Committee of Supply speech, the Minister for State President, Defence and Security, Moeti Mohwasa, revealed that the Ethics and Integrity Directorate (EID) has expanded the list of public officers required to declare their assets and liabilities.

The newly added categories include procurement officers, project managers, engineers, licensing and inspection officers, as well as land board officials involved in adjudication, conveyancing, and technical processes. According to Mohwasa, these positions are seen as particularly vulnerable to corruption risks. “The Directorate has included among the list of those who are required to declare the following,” Mohwasa said, before outlining the expanded categories. The move, he said, follows consultations with ministries, which were asked to submit names of potential declarants working in high-risk areas. “Amongst the list submitted, we selected the above,” he said.

The EID, established under the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities Act, is mandated to monitor the financial interests of public officials to prevent corruption, money laundering, and the accumulation of illicit wealth. Mohwasa signaled that the expansion is only the beginning. “The Directorate will continue to add more cadres as and when the need arises, and resources permit,” he said.

At the same time, Mohwasa indicated that the government is pushing ahead with modernising the asset declaration system. He said the first phase of digitisation and automation of declaration forms has already been completed and is ready for pilot rollout. “The digitised form is expected to streamline the declaration process by providing declarants with improved accessibility and greater ease in submitting their declarations electronically,” Mohwasa said.

However, he said progress on the second phase, which involves building a full back-end system for verification and analysis, has been delayed due to funding constraints. He disclosed that it is now expected to begin in the 2026/2027 financial year. Once complete, Mohwasa emphasised that the system will not only process and verify declarations but also detect red flags linked to corruption and illicit financial flows. He said it will also introduce a public-facing register. “This phase will facilitate the processing of declarations, encompassing receipt and verification of submitted information to detect potential corruption, money laundering, or acquisition of assets derived from criminal proceeds,” he said.

In a significant transparency measure, he revealed that the Directorate is also developing a public register that will name compliant and non-compliant officials. “The Register will include a list of individuals who have submitted their declarations, as well as those who have not complied after being served with a notice. The register will also contain a list of those who have been subjected to penalties for failure to declare,” Mohwasa said.

Beyond enforcement, Mohwasa said the Directorate is ramping up public education efforts, holding nationwide workshops and engaging citizens through expos and government events. “This initiative underscores the Directorate’s unwavering commitment to promoting accountability and ethical governance in public office,” Mohwasa said. With expanded oversight, digital systems, and public scrutiny on the horizon, the government appears to be tightening the screws on integrity in public service, sending a clear warning to those who fail to declare their wealth.