Report: Annual Report of the Joint Committee, 1 March 2012

Ethics and Members' Interest

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON ETHICS AND MEMBERS’ INTERESTS 1 MARCH 2012

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON ETHICS AND MEMBERS’ INTERESTS 1 MARCH 2012.

Joint Rule 124(2) stipulates that the Committee must report to both Houses at least annually on the operation and effectiveness of the Code.

1. In 2010 the Committee considered 31 allegations of non-disclosure identified by the Auditor General when the annual audit of Parliament was conducted. All Members who were found to be non-compliant in respect of the disclosure of interests were required to attend compulsory briefings on the Code. All the Members named in the report complied with the recommendations of the Committee requiring that they attend a compulsory workshop.

2. The 2011 Register of Members’ Interests has been compiled, adopted and made public in terms of the requirements of the Code of Conduct. All Members have submitted their disclosure forms.

3. The Committee considered 7 allegations of non-disclosure. A report on the complaint against Ms Y Botha was tabled. Both Mr Dexter and Mr Godongwana resigned before the investigations were concluded. The complaint by Mr Davidson on “ travelgate ” was outside the scope of the Committee. The Committee is currently considering three complaints.

4. The Committee also has the mandate in terms of Joint Rule 124(b) to develop standards of ethical Conduct for Assembly and Council Members, and also to regularly review the Code and make recommendations for its amendments. The Committee is presently considering the Revised Draft Code.

5. In May 2011 three Members of the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests visited the German Bundestadt to interact with their counterparts on matters related to ethics.

6. The Co-Chairpersons of the Committee in November attended a “Good Governance Conference convened by the Public Protector.

7. The Co-Chairperson of the Committee requested that the Public Protector investigate allegations regard the conduct of Minister S Shiceka . The Report of the Public Protector was noted by the Committee

Adopted by the Committee on 6 March 2012.

Documents

No related documents