Johannesburg - The ANC in Parliament is reporting 11 DA MPs to the joint ethics committee for failing to declare the benefits they derived during the party’s contestation for positions in the run-up to the DA’s national congress in May.
Among them were DA leader Mmusi Maimane, who was elected into the party’s top post at the congress, and his opponent Wilmot James, who vied for various party position, the ANC chief whip’s office said on Thursday.
However, just hours later, DA chief whip John Steenhuisen apologised for what he called an “oversight”, adding that he had ensured every MP in question had now submitted their full declarations to Parliament.
“We acknowledge these declarations (on contributions to the party position election contest) should have also been included in the parliamentary register of members’ interests, and we regret this report,” said Steenhuisen, adding that all benefits had been declared to the party.
Parliament’s register of members’ interests was published on Wednesday. Every year, parliamentarians must declare gifts, benefits, sponsorships, share and financial interests, property and income outside their job at the national legislature. The information is then published.
On Thursday, the ANC chief whip’s office said it was concerned about the lack of sufficient disclosure, given that it was common knowledge that some of the campaigns were expensive.
“We are mindful that there is no legislation directly regulating disclosure of private funding of political parties.
“However, these DA MPs cannot use this fact as a scapegoat, as the benefits they may have received were handed to them personally, a matter which is regulated under the code.”
If found guilty of a breach of the parliamentary code of conduct and declarations of interests, penalties range from a reprimand in the House, a fine not greater than a month’s salary, a reduction of allowances for not longer than 30 days, and/or the suspension of privileges, including the right to attend a sitting, for no longer than a month.
The Star