Why didn't Deputy Minister Godongwana declare his interests in Tyalibongo Trust?

Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Enoch Godongwana, has violated the Parliamentary Code of Conduct again. I will be writing to Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests for the second time to report Deputy Minister Godongwana's violation of the rules.

This morning it was reported in the Star that the Deputy Minister received a R1.9 million plot from the Tyalibongo trust, but the latest register of member's interests does not include any information on this trust under Deputy Minister Godongwana's name (see report).

This follows shortly after the Deputy Minister failed to disclose his interests in Canyon Springs Investments - a company that reportedly defrauded textile workers' pension funds.

Deputy Minister Godongwana has consistently attempted to conceal the true value of his assets, preferring to hide the information under layers of trusts and holding companies.

When questioned about the failure to disclose his R1.9 million plot, the Deputy Minister said that it was held in the Tyalibongo trust and therefore he didn't directly own it. But this raises two serious questions:

• Why isn't his interest in Tyalibongo trust disclosed; and 
• Why, if the Deputy Minister is both listed as the primary donor and beneficiary of the trust, is this R1.9 million plot not disclosed under the "property" section of the Register of Members' Interests?

There are three undeniable facts that cast serious suspicion over the integrity of this Deputy Minister. We know he had an interest in Canyon Springs Investments. We know that Canyon Springs Investments defrauded textile workers' pension funds. And we know that the Deputy Minister has done everything in his power to conceal his financial information from Parliament. 

With these three facts in mind I will insist that the Parliamentary Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests conduct a full investigation into the Minister's failure to declare his assets.

Statement issued by Kobus Marais MP, DA Shadow Minister of Economic Development, November 28 2011

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