A revised version of the law that governs the declaration of cabinet ministers' financial interests will be tabled in parliament before the end of next month, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said yesterday.
Responding to the questions in the National Assembly yesterday, Motlanthe told MPs that a draft Executive Ethics Amendment Bill would be tabled before a cabinet meeting next month for approval ahead of its submission to parliament for processing.
Motlanthe was asked by COPE MP Julie Kilian to explain what progress had been made to Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's 2010 recommendation that the Executive Ethics Act and its code be amended to provide for tougher action against ministers who breach it by failing to declare their financial interests timeously.
Former communications minister Dina Pule was sharply rebuked by National Assembly Speaker Max Sisulu on Tuesday for not declaring her relationship with boyfriend Phosane Mngqibisa who went on to pocket millions of rands from an ITC indaba hosted by the Communications Department last year when Pule was its political head.
Pule was also suspended from the business of parliament for 15 days, starting yesterday and she will also forfeit a month's salary.
MPs have, however, dismissed the sanctions as a mere slap on the wrist, and are now pushing for a more biting ethics code.
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