The Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests has extended the deadline for Members of Parliament to disclose their financial interests from 17 July to 15 August this year.
The joint rules stipulate that MPs must make the disclosure 30 days after the opening of Parliament, but the Committee deemed it appropriate that deadline be extended in order to afford MPs, especially the new ones, sufficient time to first familiarise themselves with the process so as to disclose accurately and accordingly. The extension of the deadline will be sent to both Houses for ratification in the form of a Committee report.
The Committee also took into account that this year’s opening, which marked the beginning of the fifth Parliament, took place on 17 June and this would have meant MPs were supposed to have disclosed by 17 July. The current Code was revised in the previous Parliament and was adopted by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on 26 March. The National Assembly Programme Committee will determine the date for the consideration and adoption of the new Code, which is called the Code of Ethical Conduct and Disclosure of Interests for Assembly and Council Members.
The newly elected co-chairpersons of the Committee are Mr Amos Masondo from the National Assembly (NA) and Mr Aumsen Singh from the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). Making their maiden speeches, both Chairpersons stressed the critical role of the Committee. They emphasised a non-partisan approach to the manner in which the Committee conducted its business.
For media enquiries or interviews with the co-chairpersons, please contact:
Temba Gubula
Tell: 021 403 8307
Cell: 078 735 8809
E-mail: tgubula@parliament.gov.za
Follow us on Twitter @ParliamentofRSA
Like our Facebook Page on www.facebook.com/ParliamentofRSA
