Lekota must go - DA

2003-05-16 13:46

Pretoria - Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota should resign or be fired after reports that he failed to declare business interests to parliament, the Democratic Alliance said on Friday.

"Not only does it raise questions about his personal integrity but important matters of conflicts of interest arise," DA Chief Whip Douglas Gibson said in a statement.

He contended Lekota clearly breached the Code of Conduct for all Members of Parliament.

"Because he is a minister his breach of the code is far more serious."

The Mail and Guardian newspaper reported earlier in the day Lekota had interests in a fuel distribution agency and a wine cellar in the Free State.

It said Lekota held shares in Prestprops, which trades as BZL Petroleum. The company distributes Caltex diesel products to farmers and businessmen in Harrismith and Bethlehem.

Apparently it tried recently to secure a deal with the parastatal Transnet.

Lekota was, furthermore, a director of the Landzicht winery in the Free States, an interest acquired after he left the premiership of the province in 1996.

He was also a director of the holding company, GWK Corporation.

The newspaper said Landzicht supplied the Free State government with wines and received national funding to exhibit its products abroad.

Lekota reportedly admitted to having failed to declare his interests to Parliament as required by law.

The newspaper quoted him as saying: "It was my intention to disclose my interests. It is accurate that in practice I did not disclose."

The minister acknowledged - according to the newspaper - that he was entitled to 33% of Prestprops. BZL reportedly sells more than two million litres of diesel a month.

He told the newspaper he intended pulling out of the company.

Lekota's spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.

On his wine interests, Lekota reportedly said he had attended two meetings at Landzicht, but did not recall receiving any financial benefit for doing so.

He, however, admitted to the paper that he might have received some allowances from Landzicht.

Gibson said ministers had a stronger duty than ordinary MPs to declare their interests to Parliament because they wielded more power.

They were required to make declarations in terms of the Executive Members Ethics Act and the Ministerial Handbook.

"His (Lekota) failure to comply with these obligations leaves him with no alternative but to resign," said Gibson.

"If he fails to do so, President Thabo Mbeki should set an example of clean government and fire him immediately."

Gibson said he had brought the matter to the attention of the Registrar of Members' Interests, and had requested action by the Ethics Committee of Parliament.

- SAPA