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What's Zuma hiding? |
| President still hasn't declared his interests Political parties and Cosatu are questioning President Jacob Zuma's motives after it emerged that he had failed to declare his financial interests, as required by law, within 60 days of becoming president. Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said yesterday: "We can only urge him to disclose. There can be no debate about this. "Ethically, you can't ask others to disclose and expect not to play by the same rules. We would urge him to disclose as soon as possible." The ANC would not comment. "We have not spoken to the president about it, so we don't have a comment," was all national spokesman Jackson Mthembu would say yesterday. DA leader Helen Zille said it was "scandalous" and "yet another indication that Zuma believes himself to be above the law". "This delay is about hiding the extent of conflicts of interest, and the extent to which his wives and extended family members are being bankrolled," Zille said. DA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip said Zuma had to stop "trying to bend the law" to suit his interests. Zuma had rejected Cosatu's call for lifestyle audits of politicians and public servants on the grounds that there were measures in place to govern members of the executive and civil servants with regard to business interests, gifts and assets. "To say that there are accountability measures in place, and then go out of your way not to subject yourself to those very measures, says a great deal about this president's character and his approach to governance," Trollip added. Zuma was required to declare to show that "the decisions he makes cannot be influenced by his personal circumstances". By not declaring, he was fuelling distrust and speculation, Trollip said. The Sunday Independent reported yesterday that Zuma - set to mark his first year in office on May 9 - had yet to make any declaration of his financial interests, assets and liabilities, or those of his wives, permanent companions or dependant children, as the law requires. His spokesman, Vincent Magwenya, said the breach was due to a "lack of clarity" as to whether the president in fact had to declare his interests. Zuma had therefore instructed the Presidency's legal team - with the assistance of his attorney, Michael Hulley - to draw up a legal opinion to answer the question. At the same time, Zuma had asked Hulley to prepare a submission for declaration, which was "being finalised". Magwenya could not explain why, 10 months later, the legal opinion was not yet ready. Contacted yesterday, Hulley said he would be able to comment only today. The Executive Members Ethics Act of 1998 clearly states that all cabinet members must comply and that the term "cabinet member" includes the president. The act provided for an Executive Members' Code of Ethics, which was promulgated in 2000, and which Zuma himself signed into law as acting president at the time. Magwenya told The Star that Zuma, "in line with the commitment the president has made in line with running an open, transparent administration, is quite keen to see the process concluded and keen to abide with the requirements of the act". "Secondly, like all other citizens in South Africa, over and above the need to declare, the president could also be subjected to an SA Revenue Services lifestyle audit," Magwenya pointed out. Zille, however, said she believed the delay had to do with the extent to which Zuma was beholden to benefactors, many of them business associates or linked to companies in which his extended family had interests. "It can be your culture to have as many wives as you like, but they can't all be kept in the style which they would like," she said. Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille said "there was no grey area" in the law. "Zuma has no choice because the legal precedent was set by former president Thabo Mbeki, who declared his assets. And if he did, then so should Zuma," she said. By Gaye Davis The Star 08/03/10e1 Click here to respond to this article - Your responses will get vetted and printed on "Have your Say" |
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