The Speaker:
On 30 May 2003 the National Assembly adopted the Report of the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests concerning a complaint against Minister M G P Lekota. The House thereby imposed on the Minister the sanctions as recommended by the Joint Committee. The sanctions have been implemented by way of the following written communication to the Minister:

30 May 2003

Dear Minister Lekota

BREACH OF PARLIAMENT'S CODE OF CONDUCT
The National Assembly on 30 May unanimously adopted the Report of the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests on the complaint against yourself. Your presence in the House at the time is appreciated.

The Joint Committee found that you were negligent in failing to comply with the provisions of the Code of Conduct in that your disclosure of your financial interests was incomplete. It was noted, however, that there was no evidence that you willfully withheld information with the intention to mislead Parliament.

In accordance with the sanctions approved by the House on the recommendation of the Joint Committee, a fine of one week's (7 days) salary is levied. The fine should be paid without delay to the Secretary to Parliament.

I am further instructed to issue a written reprimand to you.

I note that you took the initiative of writing to me as Speaker tendering your apology to Parliament for failing to disclose your interests in full. You have subsequently co-operated fully with the Joint Committee.
Nevertheless, your casualness - by your own admission - in regard to disclosure of your interests over an extended period of 1999 to 2003 is both disappointing and regrettable. The Code has been voluntarily imposed by members on themselves and flows from our commitment to constitutional principles and accountability to the electorate. We will only consolidate our democracy to the extent that we are able to earn respect as public representatives. When a member in a leadership position such as yourself fails to observe the letter and spirit of the Code, it represents a setback in our efforts to build and maintain public trust in democratic institutions.

The manner in which you conducted yourself subsequent to the matter coming to light is to be commended and sets an example.

This letter will in due course be published in the document "Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports" for general information.

Yours sincerely

FRENE GINWALA, MP