In SA, MP stands for ‘Many Presents’

From a R180 000 visit to Israel, personal account debt worth R40 000 being settled by a benefactor, return business class flights, Durban July trips, DStv festival junkets and Miss SA tickets, to livestock, cellphones and bags – SA members of parliament did quite well out of gifts in 2022.

The joint committee on ethics and members’ interests yesterday released the Register of Members’ Interests for 2022 to “build public trust and confidence in public representatives”.

The register revealed some of the most expensive gifts MPs received ranged from live sheep and cows, to then Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s iPhone 13 Pro Max 512GB, which cost R32 000 – which she received from a Nokuthula Nyandeni – to the R35 000 Samsung Galaxy Note Ultra smartphone and Galaxy watch active given to Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, the minister in the presidency.

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According to the committee, the release of the register “entrenched parliament’s commitment to building public trust and confidence in public representatives, thereby protecting and promoting parliament’s integrity”.

Alice Hlebani Mthembu of the ANC had an account to the value of R40 000 settled by businesswoman Sulosh Pillay, chair of Daughters of Africa Arise! and according to her Facebook page, a member of the ministerial advisory committee on social behavioural change at the department of health. It is not known if the position is current or not.

Highest-ranked MP investors

The register also revealed highest-ranked MP investors (47 investments – most waiting for the ownership transfer outcome), like ANC MP and businesswomen Xiaomei Havard, who began her journey as MP in 2021.

Havard disclosed at least six properties, along with Al Jama-ah’s founder, leader and the party’s only MP Ganief Hendricks, who owned seven properties and was a director in seven companies, which he was closing.

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Despite Havard ranking higher with investment, the register also showed ANC MP Obed Bapela received two salaries, both as an MP and the deputy minister of Cogta, and was a partner in 15 companies, which were all inactive and in final stages of deregistration.

‘Conflict of interest’

However, political analyst Professor Amanda Gouws said MPs should not have more than one job, especially in government.

“There are regulations against that and its conflict of interest. “MPs who do this are clearly in breach of the parliamentary handbook and regulations,” she said.

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“And following the backlash they received last year about increases, the public has every right to be angry about such things, especially given the unemployment climate in the country.”

Cornelius Petrus Mulder from the Freedom Front Plus has shares in 21 companies, including Naspers, Woolworths and Sibanye Stillwaters – value undisclosed – and enjoyed a R180 000 trip to Israel.

Salary increases

In a gazette published last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced salary increases would take effect retroactively from 1 April, 2021.

MPs also received increases, with Speaker of the National Assembly Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula taking home more than R2.9 million and leader of the opposition John Steenhuisen bumped up to R1.64 million.

The minimum wage for MPs was R1 172 071, while the country’s ministers and deputy ministers received R2 473 682 and R2 037 129 respectively.

However, other ministers and MPs had no “gifts and hospitality” to declare, or even properties and investments. They included Police Minister Bheki Cele, former tourism minister Lindiwe Sisulu, Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu, Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Mondli Gungubele, the ANC’s Rachel Adams, Phoebe Abraham and Gladys Adoons, among others.

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Leaders of opposition parties had slim pickings when it came to gifts and hospitality in 2022. Steenhuisen declared three trips sponsored by the Brenthurst Foundation to Somaliland for a seminar, Kenya as an election observer and on a mission and oversight visit to Ukraine.

Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema declared a set of tea mugs of unknown value from the Chinese embassy in SA, a Grandeur gin bottle from Podcast and Chill with MacG host Macgyver Mukwevho and books.

– reitumetsem@citizen.co.za