Maimane declares a pencil holder as one of his assets

It’s that time of year again when we get to have a look at members of parliament’s declaration of assets, which includes supposed admissions of the gifts they received.

The committee on ethics and members’ interests released its register of MPs’ declarations on Tuesday.

MPs have come clean on everything big and small, with billionaire Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa declaring ownership of no fewer than 31 properties.

At least 14 MPs are again on the naughty list this year for failing to declare anything at all. They have been given seven days to explain themselves, but are so far unnamed.

It turns out Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has a long list of assets, which has had Twitter talking.

He holds shares in big corporations such as Naspers, Growthpoint, Spar, MTN, Bidvest, Sasol, BHP Billiton and all the major banks.

EFF leader Julius Malema listed four trusts, but no gifts, travel or property. One would assume he therefore holds all his assets in trust. Small wonder, if one considers all his run-ins with the taxman.

Fikile Mbalula, the sports minister, had nothing to declare this year. Last year, according to Times Media, he declared “more than 30 gifts, including shirts and confectionery”.

According to the same report, DA leader Mmusi Maimane has “declared a R25 000 cash gift from Alpha, a Christian mission organisation in London, a R10 000 painting from artist Helene Kapp, a painting of himself and Nelson Mandela, a revolving pencil holder and three pairs of socks, sent monthly for six months”.

He’s obviously leaving nothing to chance, as Maimane got into trouble last year for “failing to disclose funds he had received for his campaign for the leadership of his party”.

So it seems we won’t be reading any front-page exposés anytime soon of how the opposition leader came to be the proud owner of one revolving pencil holder and three pairs of socks.