DA submits Ethics Bill on declaration of interests

By Nomava Nobumba
03 May 2010

Democratic Alliance’s Ross Van der Linder says the party has submitted a Private Members’ Legislative Proposal to the Office of the Speaker, which would eliminate certain anomalies in the Executive Members’ Ethics Act.

“The Act in its current form does not provide for penalties for instances in which it is contravened, and a lacuna in the Act has given rise to a particularly problematic situation in which the President must apply his mind to a report into his own misconduct, and recommend to Parliament what corrective steps he should take about his own misconduct,” said van der Linde.

He adds the Public Protector has recently urged Parliament to consider an amendment to the Executive Members’ Ethics Act to address all uncertainties or anomalies.

Van der says this is for this reason, the DA has submitted a Bill to the Speaker’s office.