The Joint Committee on Ethics has slapped fines on nine Members of Parliament ranging from R10 000 to R12 500 for their failure to declare financial interests by the stipulated deadline.
During a meeting held last week, the committee expressed its discontent regarding the non-compliance, underscoring that financial disclosures serve as a critical mechanism for public accountability.
Co-chairpersons of the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interest, Sharon Makhubela and Joseph Britz, said the committee was concerned that certain MPs did not disclose their financial and registrable interests by the due date.
“The committee stressed the point that the disclosure of financial and registrable interests is the mechanism designed by Parliament to hold members accountable to the public,” Makhubela and Britz said.
The parliamentarians are required to disclose their registrable interests within 60 working days of the opening of Parliament, with October 14, 2024, as the cut-off date.
Acting registrar of members’ interests Anthea Gordon had held training sessions with MPs to ensure that the new members were aware of the obligation to declare their interests.
“Of the 454 members who are required to submit their disclosures, nine members failed and/or neglected to submit their disclosures by the due date,” Makhubela and Britz said.
The culprits are from the ANC, IFP, and the MK Party.
They include Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Minister Maropene Ramokgopa, Deputy Minister Public Works and Infrastructure Sihle Zikalala, Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Andries Nel, and Deputy Minister of Transport Mkhuleko Hlengwa.
Others are MK Party national spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela as well as ANC MPs Solomon Patrick Mabilo, Mluleki Dlelanga, Mzoleli Mrara, and Masetshego Mofokeng.
Hlengwa, along with Ramokgopa and Mrara, did not provide any reasons for the non-compliance with the due date and representation when afforded an opportunity to provide written representations on the penalty to be imposed.
The committee recommended that the House reprimand them and impose a fine of R10 000.
Zikalala apologised for not meeting the deadline for disclosures, saying it was an oversight on his part.
“He stated that he confused the submission that is required by the Presidency with the submission that is required by Parliament.”
The committee did not bow to Nel after threatening to go to court to review the committee’s decision.
He also claimed he had not received any correspondence from the Office of the Registrar of Members’ Interests.
Makhubela and Britz said Gordon clearly communicated the due date to all chief whips of political parties, and communication was sent to the Leader of Government Business, Deputy President Paul Mashatile.
Gordon also conducted training from July 2024 to October 2024 on the e-disclosure system.
However, Nel sent an email to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza, who forwarded it to the committee, when allowed to provide written representations on the penalty to be imposed.
“The member stated that he intended to approach a court of law to review the decision of the committee. He requested all documents before the committee relating to his matter so that he could proceed to review the decision of the committee.”
The report said Nel stated that Gordon should have communicated with him personally and not via the ANC chief whip or Mashatile.
“The committee rejected the content of the correspondence by the member,” said Makhubela and Britz.
Ndhlela blamed his failure to comply with his role as spokesperson of the MK Party and his failure to attend the induction training as well as his Information and Communications Technology (ICT) challenges.
“The committee, however, rejected the reasons offered in relation to ICT challenges and expressed the view that the member should have attended at M314, 3rd Floor Marks, to have any possible ICT challenges attended to.
“The committee also rejected the excuse by the member that his position as spokesperson for uMkhonto weSizwe, which is very demanding, caused him to not submit by the deadline.”
Mabilo was given a harsher sanction of a R12 500 fine for breaching the code the first time and also failing to submit his disclosure after being given three additional times to complete it.
Dlelanga’s excuse of his technical error did not spare him from the sanction of reprimand and R10 000 fine.
The committee was not lenient on Mofokeng after she blamed her failure to comply to being a new MP, her illness, and being on oversight a week before the deadline.
In her representation, she asked that the committee consider that she was a single mother of two minor children, among other things.
“The committee noted that the Code does not make provision for the final warning as requested by the member. The committee also rejected the fact that the member’s status as a single mother of two minor children should invoke a lesser sentence.”