Mr L Landers was elected Chairperson of the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests on 19 February 2002, following Sr B N Z Ncube resignation as Member of Parliament. The Deputy Chairperson Ms C Nkuna was elected on 15 March 2003.

1.1 Composition of the Committee

On the 14 November 2002 the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces revised Joint Rule 122(1) on the Composition of the Committee, resulting in the Committee being reduced from forty to twenty seven members. The Committee was reconstituted on the 25 February 2003.

2. Register of Members' Interest 2002 (attached)

All Members of Parliament have submitted disclosure forms in 2002. The Register for Members' Interests for 2002 was tabled and adopted by the Committee.

3. Matters handled by the Committee

The Committee has considered five complaints in 2002. The Committee has since finalised four complaints. Reports pertaining to Mrs Mandela and Mr Yengeni were tabled in the National Assembly. A third complaint was dismissed. The fourth complaint is being considered in terms of the Committee's Procedure for the Investigation of Complaints.

4. Developing standards of Ethical Conduct

The National Assembly resolved on 26 May 2000, that the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests "extend the application of Executive Ethics Code to all Members of Parliament, with such modifications as is appropriate, and that such code be adopted by the Joint Rules Committee of Parliament by the end of the year". The Committee is considering a draft code of ethical conduct. In its final report on the complaint against Mr Yengeni the Committee reported to the National Assembly that it would revise inter alia the following aspects of the Code:

(a) Guidelines in the Code of Conduct in respect of discounts received by Members;

(b) Clarify rules on the acceptance of gifts which constitute a conflict of interests;

(c) In terms of the procedure developing rules to deal with non-cooperation by Members;

(d) Assessing the capacity and powers which the Committee requires to fulfill its mandate in terms of the
Joint Rules;

(e) A review of the sub judice rule;

(f) The role and functions of the Registrar.

5. Advice to Members concerning the implementation and interpretation of the Code

A booklet explaining the Code with Regard to Financial Interests has been completed and distributed to all Members of Parliament.

The Committee will forward proposals to the Programme Committee for a series of workshops for Members on the Code of Conduct.

Report was adopted unanimously by the Committee at its meeting on 27 May 2003.