MPs get 6-month ethics law deadline

PARLIAMENT has been given six months to redraft the law governing the conduct of members of the cabinet to prevent any future conflict of interest.

This is part of the remedial action contained in the State of Capture report that was released late last year by former public protector Thuli Madonsela.

However, chairman of the portfolio committee on justice and correctional services Mathole Motshekga said yesterday they had not begun this process.

The report had been referred to his committee for processing.

Motshekga said he would look at the report when he arrived in Parliament today.

“I heard it has been referred to us. I haven’t seen it. I will see it when I get to Parliament,” he said.

The report requires Parliament to fix the Executive Ethics Code, which provides guidelines for the conduct of ministers.

The notice now published in Parliament said MPs needed to look at the review of the code of ethics for cabinet members.

It has given them six months to do this.

“Parliament to review, within 180 days, the Executive Members’ Ethics Act to provide better guidance regarding integrity, including avoidance and management of conflict of interest,” said the notice, quoting from the public protector’s report.

“This should clearly define responsibilities of those in authority regarding a proper response to whistleblowing and whistleblowers,” it said.

“Consideration should also be given to a transversal code of conduct for all employees of the state.”

Deputy Minister of Finance Mcebisi Jonas blew the whistle on the Gupta family, saying that they had tried to appoint him to the position of his former boss, Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene.

The Gupta family has denied allegations it tried to bribe Jonas, while the deputy minister has stuck to his guns. President Jacob Zuma has also challenged the State of Capture report, and has in the past complained that he was not given an opportunity to access the evidence, including interviewing some of the witnesses.

Zuma and some of his ministers tried to interdict the report late last year, on Madonsela’s last day in office. In her report Madonsela said there was a conflict of interest between certain cabinet members and the Gupta family.

However, she wanted the executive ethics code to be reviewed to avoid any future conflict of interest.