Ethics Committee must investigate Executive members' business interests
29 July 2014
The DA will request that the Parliamentary Ethics Committee investigate the business interests of 15 cabinet ministers who are reported to continue to have business interests; so as to determine whether there is any conflict of interest, and specifically that none of these businesses are tendering with the state.
We will also request that the Public Protector investigate President Jacob Zuma, who is not bound by the Ethics Code, which covers Members of Parliament (see City Pressreport).
The Executive Members Ethics Act makes it clear that Members of the Executive should be prohibited from undertaking any other paid work; acting in a way that is inconsistent with their office; and exposing themselves to any situation involving the risk of a conflict between their official responsibilities and their private interests.
The committee must satisfy itself that these conditions have been abided by, specifically with reference to the new Ethics Code, which will come before the House for consideration today, 29 July 2014.