There was nothing wrong with Cabinet members having business interests as long as there was no conflict of interest, Communications Minister Faith Muthambi said.<\/p>\n
\u201cGovernment has noted media reports which highlight the private business interests of President Jacob Zuma and members of the executive,\u201d Muthambi said in a statement on Monday, 28 July 2014.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo this end, ministers, deputy ministers and Members of Parliament have until August 15 to make full declarations of their business interests to Parliament.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ministers were not denying their business interests, but as reported, certain ministers and deputy ministers were in the process of resigning their directorships.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of these companies are not even active but are still listed,\u201d Muthambi said.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, City Press reported that 19 members of the 72-person strong government cabinet \u2013 including Zuma \u2013 had private business interests.<\/p>\n
According to records from the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), Zuma is listed as owning an active company called Michigan Investments that was registered in 1992.<\/p>\n
However, presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj said that the company was not in operation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are looking at having it removed from the CIPC register,\u201d he told the newspaper.<\/p>\n
While Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is listed as a member of two companies and the director of at least 40 \u2013 his spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said that Ramaphosa was withdrawing from day-to-day operations at the companies; as well as being in the process of putting his interests into a blind trust.<\/p>\n
This is a kind of trust whereby the beneficiary has no knowledge of or right to intervene in the handling of the holdings by trustees.<\/p>\n
The City Press reported that some of the ministers with business links who were contacted said they would be resigning from their posts.<\/p>\n
Muthambi said the Executive Members Ethics Act, and the Ministerial Handbook were the key frameworks within which members of the executive operated.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe purpose of the disclosure is to ensure that the officials serve the public in a fair and transparent manner and to hold them accountable for their exercise of power,\u201d she said on Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Act also makes provision for the Public Protector to investigate any alleged breach of the code of ethics on receipt of a complaint.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cabinet members had to declare any financial or business interests, and withdraw from any Cabinet committee or executive council, if their interests were a matter of consideration by Cabinet.<\/p>\n
Alternatively, the president could decide that the Cabinet member\u2019s interest was trivial or not relevant.<\/p>\n
Interests extended to any financial or business interest which, to the Cabinet member\u2019s knowledge, their spouse, permanent companion, or family member had.<\/p>\n
The handbook clearly stated executive members could not receive remuneration for any work or service other than for their performance as Cabinet members.<\/p>\n
Nor could they use their position or information entrusted to them to enrich themselves or improperly benefit any other person.<\/p>\n
Government remained committed to complying with the annual declaration, in line with the prescribed rules and regulations, Muthambi said.<\/p>\n
Communications minister lied to SABC board: report<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n DoC tender to be investigated<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n