Joemat-Pettersson 'does not use your money'

Agriculture Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson, who has been embroiled in a controversy about hotel accommodation, receives R200000 a month in child maintenance from the estate of her late husband.

She also has unlimited travel benefits from the same trust, and owns a summer house and a flat in Stockholm, Sweden.

These are some of the revelations in the latest register of MPs' interests, released yesterday.

All MPs have to declare their interests in the register. They can also make use of a confidential register.

Joemat-Pettersson has been severely criticised for her stays in hotels and guesthouses. In one instance, she reportedly cost the government R15000 a night for 28 days.

But her declaration in the public register shows that she receives R100000 a month from her late husband's estate for each of her two boys, and can claim unlimited travel expenses from the estate. She owns a flat and a summer house in the Swedish capital.

Her spokesman, Selby Bokaba, said the declaration showed that Joemat-Pettersson does not use taxpayers' money for personal trips.

"The minister has declared she has unlimited access to travel, so she doesn't need taxpayers' money to travel," he said.

Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale declared only 1000 ordinary shares in Absa worth R137 each in May.

Under directorships and partnerships, Sexwale declared that he was a trustee of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko declared a two-week trip to Germany funded by the Friederick Naumann Foundation, and a USB adapter set and silver pen worth R800 from Unisa.

Donations to Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula included tracksuits from Nike worth R1000, a complimentary Cape Minstrel carnival tie and a DStv mobile Drifta worth R499 from Supersport.

Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile declared a house and a plot in upmarket Sandton.

DA federal chairman Wilmot James declared 15 directorships and shares worth over R5-million from Sanlam and Fynbos Media, and a plot in the seaside resort of Scarborough, outside Cape Town. His colleague, Jacques Smalle, has interests worth about R23-million in a property group and a farm.

Deputy Correctional Services Minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi has declared shares worth a combined R12-million in the Magoebaskloof Manor Trust and Zibediela Bricks. He also has a 17ha plot and a house outside Tzaneen.