Parliament
The Democratic Alliance says it welcomes the Ethics Committee Report which found that EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu was guilty of violating the Code of Ethical Conduct and Disclosure of Members’ Interests.
DA Chief Whip, Siviwe Gwarube, said the party first laid this complaint in 2018 and again in 2019 when allegations surfaced that Shivambu was embroiled in the grand heist of savings of vulnerable depositors at the VBS Bank.
She said it was important for the Ethics Committee to ascertain whether any funds allegedly received by Shivambu were in fact declared as per the requirements of the law.
“As the Ethics Committee conducted its work, it found that there were funds that Mr Shivambu received through a company that was owned by his brother; with links to VBS.
However, these were never disclosed as is required by law,” Gwarube said.
She said according to a liquidator’s report submitted to the Portfolio Committee, highlighted three transfers in August 2017, totalling R180 000 from Sgameka Projects, a company owned by Brian Shivambu, the EFF MPs brother, to him.
“Based on this irrefutable evidence, it was found that Mr Shivambu breached item 10.1.1.1 of the Code of Ethical Conduct and Disclosure of Members’ Interests (“the Code”) for failing to comply with the requirements of the provisions for disclosing financial interest,” said Gwarube.
She said the Ethics Committee has now recommended this he be docked nine days pay due to this non-disclosure.
“We welcome this finding – although it has taken the committee four years to complete – because it demonstrates that there can never be one set of rules for some and exemptions for others. We are Members of Parliament; accountable to the public,” Gwarube said.
