Polygraph tests for Gauteng govt officials ’step in the right direction’
Gauteng Premier, David Makhura says his executive has been subjected to lifestyle audits, and they will further undergo polygraph tests in September as part of efforts to curb corruption in government.
Senior associate at Ulrich Roux and Associates, Storm Barry says while polygraph tests may not be admissible as evidence in a court of law, they are admissible in disciplinary hearings and can assist an investigation.
Makhura briefed the media on Tuesday on the lifestyle audits, the fight against gender-based violence, crime in the province, as well as the troubled health department following his response to questions in the provincial legislature.
“The polygraph test is very important for us, it’s what we call the gold standard. After doing everything else, we want to set a precedent that even before people are appointed in the executive committee they must undergo lifestyle audits that does the full assessment of their income and assets,” he said.
The State Security Agency (SSA) looks into the assets, criminal records, tax compliance and verified the qualifications of the executive, and now the premier says the processes will be no longer be reserved only for senior managers.
Makhura says officials in departments who get the lion’s share of the province’s budget, which he referred to as the “big five” departments.
“The big-budget departments would be health, education, infrastructure development, transport, and human settlements. They spend a lot of money on service providers, so there would be our priority.”
Barry says individuals can’t be forced to take a polygraph test, which is mainly used as an investigative tool.
“The theory that supports the reliability of these tests is that lying is naturally stressful, and the machine is able to measure the stress…polygraph tests in itself is purely an indication of possible dishonesty, and it can be used as a justifiable grounds for suspension pending an investigation, but it can’t be used as evidence in law.”
Barry says the move by Makhura’s government is a step in the right direction.
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