Zuma must declare his interests

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Article by: Sapa

Published: 08 Mar 2010

Zuma must declare his interests — DA

President Jacob Zuma should declare his financial interests for the sake of the law and transparency, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Sunday.

"The President is required to declare in an open and transparent manner all of his interests.

"He is required to do so because, as a public servant, he needs to be able to demonstrate that the decisions he makes cannot be influenced by his personal circumstances," said DA Parliamentary leader Athol Trollip in a statement.

Trollip added that Zuma, as the State President, is required by the law to declare his financial interests.

"That President Zuma has apparently still not declared his financial interests... demonstrates the level of contempt this President has for transparency in government."

Trollip's comments come on the heels of a report in the Sunday Independent that Zuma had not yet declared his financial interests.

All members of Cabinet, including the President, are required to do so according to a code of ethics which was signed by Zuma himself in 2000 when he was Acting President.

Former President Thabo Mbeki had declared his financial interests according to his spokesperson.

In the report, Zuma's spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said that there was a "lack of clarity" over whether he would have to declare.

"...There was a lack of clarity on whether he really needs to declare (his interests). The lack of clarity was on the interpretation of the language in the act," said Magwenya.

"There was a feeling that no, he does not need to declare (them) and also, there was consideration of...precedents.

"The lack of clarity was partly (caused) by what people understood the practice to have been before," he said.

Magwenya said that Zuma's legal team was consulted for an opinion but had missed a 60-day deadline to return with a response.

He said that if the opinion was that Zuma must declare then he would do so.