The more things change, the more they stay the same. The Minister of Transport accepts a R1 mil Merc as a 'gift' from a company that does business with his department.
Related: I have declared my R1m Merc to Zuma - S'bu Ndebele
Transport Minister’s gift car: Zuma must act now - The Times
*UPDATE 19 MAY 2009* - S'bu Ndebele decides to return the Merc
President Zuma is on public record as saying that he is committed to a corruption-free administration. It is vitally important for our ability to root out poverty and for the survival of our democracy that he stand by this promise, and that all members of Cabinet also live by it.
The transport minister therefore must show that he is not beholden to Vukuzakhe contractors, and Mr. Ndebele must return the Mercedes Benz gift they gave to him. This will help to give us confidence that any future contracts awarded to Vukuzakhe are based on their ability to deliver, not on the consideration of this gift.
Vukuzakhe already has contracts with the Department of Transport worth more than R400 million. It will not be enough for the Minister to declare this gift in the Register of Members Interests. By giving the car back, the Minister will show that any contracts awarded to Vukuzakhe are not based on any form of favouritism.
Moreover by refusing to give back the car, the Minister will be acting in contravention of the Executive Members Ethics Act of 1988 which requires cabinet members to "at all times act in good faith and in the best interest of good governance".
The DA will continue to play its role of oversight as the official opposition. In this role we will not be hindered by the Minister's statements that we are "not guardians of his morality".
Statement issued by Stuart Farrow, MP, Democratic Alliance spokesperson on transport
2 Opinion(s):
"Round and round we go, forever in time" Do you remeber yeah, yeah, yeah?
As for South Africa, Nelson Mandela accepted the gift of a Mercedes from the manufacturer. In 2001 the ANC chief whip Tony Yengeni was charged and later jailed for accepting a Mercedes ML320 at a 48% discount in return for lobbying on behalf of Daimlerchrysler companies in the European Aeronautic Defence and Space consortium (EADS). At the same time EADS was bidding for huge defence contracts, and Mercedes-Benz unilaterally admitted making dozens of cars available at discount prices. Some 32 officials, including the national defence chief General Siphiwe Nyanda, benefited. According to local press reports, President Thabo Mbeki had been given an S600L armoured limousine for a "test drive." He kept it for a full six months, handing it back just as the Yengeni scandal broke.
The following year, Muammar Gaddafi gave Mbeki an S600L as a present. ANC officials claimed the President was "truly embarrassed," but did he refuse the gift?
Watch out ! Zuma might want it for himself or for one of his wifes !
Post a Comment