Moleketi 'sent back gift'

2008-05-21 19:10

Johannesburg - President Thabo Mbeki must take appropriate action against Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi for failing to disclose a birthday gift, the Public Protector recommended on Wednesday.

Fraser-Moleketi received a gift worth R2 500 from Melanie Bernard-Fryer, the former chief executive officer of the Media, Advertising, Publishing, Printing and Packaging Sector Training Authority (Mappp-Seta) in August 2006.

It is alleged she received the gift "in return for Fraser-Moleketi forwarding certain documents relating to fraud and corruption (in the Mappp-Seta) to the minister of labour", according to a report by the protector.

"It is recommended that the president attends to the violation of the code by Ms Fraser-Moleketi in the appropriate manner," recommended the report.

Fraser-Moleketi has denied the allegation and told the public protector that she already had returned the gift.

In a statement released on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the department said Fraser-Moleketi welcomed the report and was grateful it had cleared her of improper conduct.

Ramona Baijnath said the report did not state that Fraser-Moleketi's behaviour was unethical.

Baijnath said the protector had found that the allegations were "unfounded."

Immediately returned the gift

Baijnath said Fraser-Moleketi had asked the protector to intervene in the matter in order to "limit any false perceptions or interferences within the government."

Baijnath said that when the minister found she had been implicated in receiving a gift from Mappp-Seta for a favour, she immediately returned the gift and informed the president, deputy president and minister of labour of the allegations.

She said Fraser-Moleketi had fully complied with the protector's investigation.

Baijnath said the minister was committed to "upholding the executive code of ethics in the service of government and the people of South Africa."

- SAPA