Ethics Committee Publishes 2015 Register of Members’ Interests and considers complaints against MPs
The Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests has published the 2015 Register of Members’ Interests and is accessible via this URL: http://tinyurl.com/pb2zmde. Hard copies are also available at the Registrar’s Office, V124 on the 1st Floor of the Old Assembly Building.
The Committee was pleased that majority of Members of Parliament had met the 31 July 2015 deadline for disclosure of Members’ registrable interests. According to the Committee, only nine members missed the deadline, but their interests are contained in the Register as released. The names of the MPs that missed the deadline will be published in a report that will be tabled before the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces.
The Committee also granted condonation to three MPs who were unable to disclose their registrable interests due to their ill health. These three MPs will be expected to submit their disclosure forms within 30 days from the date they return from their respective sick leave.
The Committee also dealt with allegations of misconduct by MPs and resolved the following:
On the matter concerning Hon Zukiswa Ncitha, the Committee agreed that the incidences against the member occurred before Ms Ncitha was appointed as an MP, adding that Parliament’s Code of Ethical Conduct is only applicable to MPs.
On the matter concerning Hon Mandla Mandela, the Committee agreed that the incident occurred before the adoption of the new Code of Ethical Conduct for MPs which was adopted in November 2014 and thus this matter falls outside the Scope of Committee.
These two matters, according to the Committee, are now closed.
There are other complaints involving four MPs that are before the Committee. With regards to the matter of Hon Archibold Figlan and Hon Jihad Mohapi, the Committee has resolved to constitute a sub-committee as stipulated in Section 10.7.5 of the Code of Ethical Conduct for Members of Parliament. This sub-committee will be expected to consider the complaints and advise the broader Committee in the near future.
In keeping with the principles of the Code, the matters of Hon Pule Mabe and Hon Nazier Paulsen will be subjected to the initial preliminary interaction between the Registrar and the above-mentioned individual MPs. The Registrar is therefore expected to provide a brief report and advise the Committee accordingly.
On the issue which is in the public domain regarding the appointment of the Registrar of the Committee, the Committee received reports that the appointment of the Registrar was procedural and correct and that all parties were consulted during her appointment in 1997.
On issues in the media, Committee Chairpersons urged Committee Members to desist from talking to the media about matters that were still being discussed before the Committee, especially articulating such issues as though they were a decision of the Committee.
Committee Co-Chairpersons also reminded Committee Members about the oath they took to observe confidentiality and called on them to refrain from undermining processes of the Committee.
On the matter of interference with Committee processes, the Committee expressed disappointment with the comments made by DA’s Hon John Steenhuisen in a Sunday Times article of 27 September 2015 and said contents of that article appeared to undermine Committee processes, something that should not be happening.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Co-Chairpersons, please contact:
Temba Gubula
Tel: 021 403 8307
Cell: 078 735 8809
E-mail: tgubula@parliament.gov.za
