Lekota to have his say in parly

2003-05-16 16:04

Donwald Pressly

Cape Town - Embattled Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota is likely to defend himself in parliament next week following his admission that he failed to declare to parliament his interests in oil and wine businesses - including shares and directorships.

Approached for comment the Presidency's Bheki Khumalo referred I-Net Bridge to Sam Mkhwanazi, spokesperson for the defence minister who, in turn, said:

"The minister is in touch with the Speaker of the National Assembly (Frene Ginwala) over allegations of non-disclosure of assets," he said.

It was probable he said that the minister would make a statement to Parliament "early next week" he said. Mkhwanazi said there had been "certain inaccuracies in the story but we don't intend to deal with them until such time that the minister shall have made a statement in parliament."

Democratic Alliance chief whip Douglas Gibson earlier on Friday called on the defence minister - who is also national chairperson of the ruling African National Congress - to resign from the cabinet and also urged on President Thabo Mbeki to "set an example of clean government and fire him immediately".

The Mail & Guardian reported that the minister had interests in fuel and wine businesses that he did not declare to Parliament as required by law.

The story by Wisani wa ka Ngobeni stated that in both the fields the companies with Lekota was involved had either done business with the government "or have attempted to secure state or parastatal contracts".

The wine company "does regular business with the Free State government, an administration Lekota formerly headed, it reported. Lekota was Premier of the Free State prior to being appointed defence minister. The wine company obtained funding from a national government agency to exhibit its products in three countries, it also reported.

Lekota's fuel company is a distribution agency of Caltex, reported the Mail & Guardian on Friday - and recently tried to secure a Transnet deal.

Lekota has shares in Prestprops which trades as BZL Petroleum, and is a director of Free State winery Landzicht, which the newspaper reported was owned by GWK, its holding company. Lekota is also a director of the holding company.

In his response to the newspaper he admitted that he had not disclosed in his interests to parliament - in the register of Members' interests: "It was my intention to disclose my interests. It is accurate that in practice I did not disclose."

- I-Net Bridge (Business)