The joint committee on ethics and members’ interests in Parliament recently reprimanded nine Members of Parliament, including Minister in the Presidency Maropene Ramokgopa, for failing to declare their financial and registrable interests by the required deadline of 14 October 2024. As a result, fines ranging from R10,000 to R12,500 were imposed on the offenders.
Apart from Ramokgopa, other MPs who were found guilty of this violation include uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela, Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Sihle Zikalala, Deputy Transport Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa, and Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Andries Nel.
The committee emphasized its commitment to upholding the accountability of all parliamentarians, stating that the disclosure process is crucial for building public trust in Parliament. According to the Code of Ethical Conduct and Disclosure of Members’ Interests, MPs are required to disclose their registrable interests within 60 working days after the opening of Parliament following a general election. Failure to do so results in fines being imposed.
In response to the committee’s decision, Nel expressed his intention to challenge it in court, claiming that he had not received any communication regarding the deadline for submission of disclosures. He argued that he had submitted his disclosure on 24 October 2024. However, the committee rejected his justification and fined him R10,000.
Ndhlela cited the demanding nature of his role as the MK party spokesperson as the reason for his delayed submission, stating that he faced difficulties due to his password being changed by the IT division. Despite his explanation, the committee fined him R10,000 for his non-compliance.
Ramokgopa and Zikalala submitted their disclosures seven days after the deadline, with Ramokgopa failing to provide a reason for the delay and Zikalala attributing it to an oversight. The committee found their excuses inadequate and imposed fines on both MPs.
Overall, the committee emphasized that the reasons provided by the MPs for their non-compliance were not considered valid grounds for leniency in imposing penalties. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to ethical standards and fulfilling obligations as public representatives.
