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The
Democratic Alliance has asked the Public Protector to
investigate Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota's contravention of the
Executive Ethics Code, which forbids a minister from holding
directorships, shares and business interests.
The request was delivered to the protector's Cape Town office by DA
Chief Whip Douglas Gibson at 1pm yesterday.
Earlier this week, Gibson said it was "expected" of President Thabo
Mbeki to refer Lekota's conduct to the Public Protector, in
accordance with the Executive Members' Ethics Act.
If Mbeki failed to do this, the DA would itself approach the
protector, Gibson said.
Last Thursday, Parliament's joint ethics committee sanctioned
Lekota for failing to comply with the provisions of the
parliamentary code of conduct.
Committee chairman Luwellyn Landers said the committee found Lekota
was negligent in making incomplete disclosures of his
interests.
"The committee, however, found that there was no evidence that the
minister wilfully withheld information with the intention to
mislead Parliament," Landers said.
The committee recommended that Speaker Dr Frene Ginwala issue a
written reprimand to Lekota, and that he be fined one week's (seven
days) salary.
This translates into a fine of R11 485 for Lekota, as a Cabinet
minister.
The committee's report was tabled in the Assembly this week, and
the matter is expected to be considered soon.
After last Thursday's meeting, Lekota's spokesperson, Sam
Mkhwanazi, said the minister regretted the negative publicity the
issue had caused to Parliament and the African National
Congress.
Lekota would abide by and respect the committee's findings, as well
as the National Assembly's decision on the recommendations made,
Mkhwanazi said.
The same day, Gibson said the committee's findings and
recommendations did not dispose of the matter entirely because
Lekota was not only an MP, he was a minister.
"A disarming and charming admission of negligence might just
suffice for an MP; for a minister it is not enough.
"Ministers are subject to the Code of Ethics for Ministers, which
set more stringent requirements," he said. – Sapa-AFP.
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