African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has intensified calls for Democratic Alliance (DA) leader and Minister in the Government of National Unity (GNU), John Steenhuisen, to undergo a lifestyle audit, insisting that all Cabinet members must be held to the same standard of scrutiny. Speaking during a media briefing on governance and accountability, Mbalula stressed that transparency should be universal, regardless of political affiliation, and that no minister should be exempt from examination of their financial affairs.
Mbalula described lifestyle audits as a critical and non-negotiable tool for ensuring accountability in government. He argued that the public has the right to know how political leaders manage their assets and finances, and that any unexplained wealth should disqualify an individual from holding office. “John Steenhuisen should provide an explanation comparable to that of others and submit to a full lifestyle audit. All ministers in the GNU are required to undertake this process, and those who do not pass must resign,” Mbalula said, underscoring the importance of consistency and fairness in governance.
[WATCH] JOHN STEENHUISEN LIFESTYLE AUDIT.
John Steenhuisen must explain himself like everyone else and subject himself to a lifestyle audit.
All ministers in the GNU must undergo lifestyle audits and those who fail must leave. #ANCNEC pic.twitter.com/cbgpfgpFVi
— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) November 18, 2025
His remarks come amid rising public demands for standardized accountability measures, driven by years of corruption scandals that have eroded trust in state institutions. While lifestyle audits have long been recognised as an effective method to prevent and detect corruption, implementation has often been slow and uneven across different administrations.
Political analysts suggest that Mbalula’s statement reflects the ANC’s broader push to enforce internal reforms and rebuild public confidence. At the same time, it highlights potential friction within the unity government, particularly between the ANC and the DA, two parties with differing political ideologies and approaches to oversight. Although the DA has historically supported lifestyle audits, it has yet to respond publicly to the latest call from Mbalula.
If carried out comprehensively, the audits would require ministers to disclose assets, sources of income, business interests, and any financial irregularities that might raise questions about their suitability for office. Public reactions have been mixed: some see the push as a meaningful step toward transparent governance, while others view it as a political maneuver in an already delicate coalition.
Attention is now focused on how the GNU will implement these audits and whether the process will be applied equally across the political spectrum. For now, Mbalula’s position is clear: no minister, including Steenhuisen, is above scrutiny, and accountability must be enforced to strengthen trust in South Africa’s political institutions.
