By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Parliamentarians have all met the deadline to declare their financial interests in the 2025 register and no one will run the risk of being sanctioned.
Parliament has declared the public section of the register, in line with Parliament’s code of conduct, which mandates that after a general election, members must disclose their registrable interests within 60 working days of Parliament’s opening.
The register is the second since the start of the seventh administration.
Minister of Sport and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, of the Patriotic Alliance, is involved in more than 28 companies, either as a director or in partnership.
He declared no shares or other financial interests or work outside of Parliament, but it is clear McKenzie has been building a nest egg since his release.
Directorships and partnerships (since deregistered) in which McKenzie had a stake include logistics, media, mining and exploration, film and television, a micro brewery, a record label, health and wellness, night clubs and entertainment and liquid gas distribution.
The companies listed by the PA leader were: Amantenda 523, Lexshell 138 (General Trading), Raystar Productions (film and TV), Gas Afrique (investments), Afrobrew Beverages (micro brewery), G Gas (LPG distribution) Dirbyn Utilities (general trading), Gayton McKenzie (general trading), African Australian Minerals and Energy (mining and exploration), Dirbyn Investment Holdings (investment), Daringo Trading 213 (general trading), Taboo Trading 189 (nightclub and entertainment), Megafone Telecoms (ICT), Halowiz Investments (investments), ZAR Productions (film and television), Dream Weaver Trading 445 (general trading), Dirbyn Publications (media), Gayton McKenzie Distributions (general trading), Tobiwell (health and wellness), Talirex (general trading), NSO What Trading (film and television), Nu Money Records (record label), Black Solar (solar trading), Damash Minerals (mining and exploration), Portkey SA (logistics), Hustlers Empire (investment holdings), Science Fixing (mining consultancy).
McKenzie also listed the Patriotic Alliance under this heading.
The register noted under “Gifts and Hospitality” that McKenzie is mentioned as the source of a gift of “Soweto Derby Soccer tickets” of unknown value to Ms Nonceba Bianca Mhlauli, the Deputy Minister in the Presidency. However, in his own declaration, he had nothing to disclose in this category.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has had years of experience handling money, so one would expect astute future squirrelling.
He had nothing to disclose in the category of shares and other interests, but did mention his listing as a director of Mgagao Shamba PTY, “which is involved in farming, events, and sales activities”.
“Farming events” of course is open to interpretation, probably in the new Land Court later in the year.
Malema declared no sponsorships but fessed up to a bottle of wine and Lindt Lindor chocolates, a gift from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China. Perhaps Steenhuisen and Malema can arrange an evening of competitive wine tasting as a toenadering (rapprochement in Fringlish).
The BaPedi Queen, Leganabatho 11 Manyaku Thulare, gifted the commander-in-chief two live sheep, which were valued at R7,000, said Malema.
He also owned no land, no property and no rented property. He remained a beneficiary of the famous Ratanang Family Trust and was a trustee and beneficiary of the Munzhedzi Family Trust, along with Mantoa Matlala, Ratanang Malema, Munzhedzi Malema and Kopano Malema.
The leader noted he was also a trustee of the Kopano Charity Trust, a trustee and beneficiary of the Mazimbu Investments Trust, alongside Mantoa Matlala, Ratanang Malema, Munzhedzi Malema, and Kopano Malema.
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader and Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen experienced first hand the hospitality of the agricultural sector, which showered him with the following gifts.
Stuffed animals, 48 bottles of fine wine, a leather hat and shotgun cartridge case, biltong, a fieldbar cooler, four Nguni hides, a windbreaker, a mohair jersey and a beekeeping suit and instruction manual.
There are others including “a tartan wool tie” from the UK Minister of Trade and Industry, and which we look forward to seeing the minister wear. Then there is an Ostrich RSA flag and various plumes “for display in his office in Pretoria” — a very queer-eye-for-ministerial-decor moment.
And the least appealing of the lot, “a breakfast display/various cereals of unknown value from PepsiCo”. Steenhuisen pointed out that this was for the office, probably somewhere in a corner, maybe there by the photocopier.
Added to this were “various Macadamia products” and “ostrich meat”.
With regard to Steenhuisen’s shares and other interests he ticked “nothing to declare”, said he did not perform paid work outside Parliament and had no sponsorships.
International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola has racked up a considerable list of donations, mostly of whisky and vodka, while National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza has declared an ostrich leather handbag, and Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina, a sheep and shoes.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile, whose property ownership has in the past come under the spotlight, has declared three residential properties – in Constantia in Cape Town, and Midrand and Kelvin in Johannesburg.