YEARS AGO

Pressure for MPS to continue earning lucrative salaries on top of their pay from Parliament is coming from inside an ethics subcommittee set up to devise rules on the controversial issue.

Six of nine MPS on the parliamentary committee, chaired by Water Minister Kader Asmal, advocate the right of MPS to hold second jobs. At least three committee members are themselves employed outside Parliament, according to the latest edition of Parliamentary Whip.

“The composition of the subcommittee means it is almost certain to recommend that on this first issue of principle, MPS will continue to be entitled to more than one source of income, even though conflicts of interest may arise,” says the newsletter, published by the Institute for a Democratic South Africa.

The paper quotes a number of ethics committee members who voice strong support for their right to continue holding company directorships or salary-earning posts outside the assembly — even though a large number of MPS are pushing for Parliament to be seen as a fulltime job. — Mail & Guardian, July 7 to 13 1995