The Congress of South African Trade Unions is seriously concerned at reports that the Minister of Transport, S'bu Ndebele, has been donated a Mercedes Benz vehicle worth R1.14 million, a plasma screen TV, two cows and petrol vouchers from a group of contractors.

COSATU welcomes the news that he has asked President Jacob Zuma to make a ruling on whether he should accept the gift but believes that he should himself have refused to accept it.

COSATU has consistently argued that public representatives - Ministers, MPs and civil servants - should refuse on principle to accept gifts from commercial companies or anyone else who might benefit from government actions. Nothing is given for nothing, and whatever the reason the donor may give for making the donation, the reality is that it creates a conflict of interest. The danger will always exist that the donor company will try to jump the queue when applying for government business, as a pay-back for their generosity.

For the same reason all public representatives should resign from any positions in commercial companies, and we therefore welcome Comrade Tokyo Sexwale's resignation from the companies in which he was involved.

COSATU calls upon President Zuma to set a precedent by refusing to sanction the gift to Comrade Ndebele and making it clear that his government strictly enforce the rules on gifts and not allow any of its members to accept donations which will compromise their independence.

Statement issued by Patrick Craven, national spokesperson of the Congress of South African Trade Unions, May 19 2009

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter