Johannesburg - Cows valued at R20 000 for a daughter’s lobolo and a “liquor donation for daughter’s wedding” from SA Breweries were declared in this year’s register of members’ interests.
And so it emerged that Parliament’s small business development committee chairwoman, Ruth Bhengu, received cows and R15 000 cash for her daughter’s lobolo, while Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula declared the liquor donation, to which no value was put, and the benefit of a discounted marquee for her daughter’s wedding.
Deputy Rural Development Minister Mcebisi Skwatsha declared R30 000 for a thanks-giving ceremony as a hospitality gift from Dynamic Toner Solutions.
In terms of Parliament’s code of conduct, parliamentarians – this includes ministers and their deputies who retain their parliamentary seats, but not the president, who resigns from the national legislature on election – annually must disclose gifts over a certain value, directorships, shares and financial interests, property and travel.
The 2015 register was adopted by the joint ethics committee on Wednesday, after having extended the deadline by a month to late July.
Tickets to the Cape Town Jazz Festival and various sporting events were popular, as was alcohol. However, DA leader Mmusi Maimane’s declaration mangles the name of the 25-year-old whisky he received to “Bunnababharm” – surely it was Bunnahabhain!
Maimane holds no trusts, but remains the director of Youth for Christ and has also declared a directorship in L&M Consultancy, a project management consultancy.
A bottle of wine from the University of Stellenbosch was the only gift in EFF leader Julius Malema’s declaration, alongside four trusts.
Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini, also the ANC Women’s League president, declared a gift of six wine bottles from Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini.
Many MPs, and those serving in the executive, hold directorships, including Deputy Public Service and Administration Minister Ayanda Dlodlo, who lists 29.
ANC deputy chief whip Doris Dlakude is a director of sugarcane farms and Dlakude Funerals, an undertaking concern which also owns property, but has resigned a construction-related directorship, while another construction company was deregistered.
Her boss, ANC chief whip Stone Sizani, has declared 15 directorships, including in mining and trucking/logistics. He also earned R20 000 from Transnational Distribution, one of the companies in which he is a director.
Freedom Front Plus MP Pieter Groenewald holds two directorships, including in Counter Intelligence Agency South Africa, which is described as “industrial counter-intelligence development and law enforcement”.
Deputy Labour Minister Phathekile Holomisa holds five directorships, including Contralesa Investment Holdings, linked to the Congress of Traditional Leaders of SA he led for many years. He lists two trusts, the Contralesa Development Trust and the Hegebe Cultural Development Trust, of which the clan he heads is the beneficiary.
ANC MP Mandla Zwelivelile Mandela lists his trusteeship of the Mvezo Development Trust.
ANC MP Winnie Madikizela-Mandela owns a flat in Hout Bay, alongside her properties in Soweto. Cope leader Mosiuoa Lekota owns seven properties.
Speaker Baleka Mbete again declared her mining equity shares, valued at R27 million, received through her stake in two entities involved in a controversial Gold Fields empowerment deal. She also declared paintings, scarves, traditional clothes and a tea box.
Her deputy Lechesa Tsenoli had little to declare except $300 he received from the ambassador of Vietnam and a return trip and accommodation to China courtesy of the Communist Party of China.
He may be young, but DA MP Yusuf Cassim has an impressive share portfolio, as has fellow DA MP Greg Krumbock, who also runs a consultancy.
Co-operative Governance Minister Pravin Gordhan declared shares valued at more than R2.6m in many of the country’s top companies.
Small Business Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu, in the share section of the register, declared “awaiting information from financial adviser”.
The Star
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