Africa-Press – South-Africa. Parliament’s Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests has published the register of members’ interests for 2023. The register is published to ensure transparency and to instil public trust and confidence in parliament, with members required to declare significant holdings in businesses, shares owned, as well as gifts received.
Notably, the register only includes declarations from Members of Parliament, which means President Cyril Ramaphosa is not required to declare his interests (as he is not an MP). The document also precludes the two cabinet ministers that the president can appoint who are not MPs.
For 2023, these two ministers are Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel and Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa. The 2023 register marks the first time the finance minister Enoch Godongwana’s interests have been declared, as well as deputy president Paul Mashatile – both of whom were sworn in after the 2022 register was compiled and subsequently published in April 2023.
While many MPs abide by the spirit of the register and declare their gifts and ownership in detail, some are reticent to give the whole picture. Gifts given range from simple trinkets and tools like pens and notepads – all the way to the use of private jets and, in the case of mineral resources minister Gwede Mantashe, a non-descript “picture” valued at R50,000.
The use of the private jet is listed by deputy minister in the presidency, Pinky Kekana, who declared the use of a “friend’s” private jet among her gifts (which included a host of VIP tickets to Multichoice events).
Kekana is also a beneficiary of no fewer than five separate pensions, and has directorships in nine different groups. No value to any of these was declared, however. SA’s top politicians
Meanwhile, Mashatile’s declarations, in particular, have come under keen focus following reports that the deputy president was living a life of luxury, far beyond the relatively ‘meagre’ earnings of his position.
Investigations from News24 revealed earlier this year that the deputy president was living in a R37 million mansion in Waterfall City, Midrand, which he said belonged to his son. His various other luxuries were also attributed to friends and family members which he simply had access to.
The 2023 register, however, showed that Mashatile declared at least two properties as his own. This includes a home in Sandton, as well as a massive house in Midrand – ostensibly the mansion in question.
The deputy president also declared policies and investments held by Old Mutual to the value of R34.3 million, as well as a list of gifts – from Russian vodka to a Samsung mobile device – with no listed valued.
For Godongwana, the finance minister also listed various gifts – many of unknown value – as well as three properties. He is also a beneficiary of the Tyalibongo trust (though says he has derived no benefit from this) and holds 100% of ordinary shares in Zabezolo Resources, which in turn owns 7% of the Siyanda Bakgatla Mine.
The share value is unknown, according to the register. Ordinary Members of Parliament have a set salary of around R1.2 million a year, with salaries increasing with responsibility.
Cabinet ministers and deputy ministers earn between R2.1 million and R2.6 million and also benefit from a host of other perks, including housing, cars and having their utility bills covered.
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