Clocks of all shapes and sizes, wine, whiskey and the odd Cuban beverage, cellphones and/or free airtime and pens are the most likely gifts to our politicians, the 2002 Register of Members’ Interests shows.
Described as ”cultural artefacts”, ”cultural souvenirs” or ”art objects”, gifts included silver computer mouses, statues of horse heads and dragons, silk prayer rugs, woven baskets, tea sets, vases and the like. There are cows, sheep and ”beasts” of unspecified species, 60 eggs for International Egg Day, prison-made goodies like furniture, a bag and belt, and a plethora of T-shirts, caps and the occasional suit.
While women Cabinet members got jewellery and beauty products, their male colleagues received more sporty benefits, including three posters of BMWs worth R750 each for Minister of Trade and Industry Alec Erwin.
Spare a thought for his deputy, Lindiwe Hendricks, who, instead of getting coveted Cuban cigars, got Cuban perfume.
Among those who received nail clippers, make-up, bath products and jewellery were Minister of Foreign Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Deputy Minister of Justice Cheryl Gillwald, Minister of Intelligence Services Lindiwe Sisulu and Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs Thoko Didiza. ”The leader of the revolution of Libya”, Moammar Gadaffi, was listed more than once as a giver of jewels. Sisulu also received a leather briefcase from him and a ”traditional outfit” from the head of Libya’s secret service.
Meanwhile, Erwin and Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel have several golf course memberships between them, while it was golf lessons for Minister of Water Affairs Ronnie Kasrils. Parliament’s justice committee chairperson Johnny de Lange got rugby season suites.
Each year MPs, including minis-ters, have to declare sponsorships, remuneration outside Parliament, certain financial interests and all gifts and benefits valued at more than R350. Many have nothing to declare. Others, like former African National Congress chief whip Tony Yengeni, declare benefits such as the payment of legal costs of his trial on an arms deal-related corruption charge.
But Winnie Madikizela-Mandela continues to state ”nothing to disclose”, except two stands in Soweto, despite censure by Parliament following the discovery during the bail hearing ahead of her fraud and theft trial of R50 000 monthly sponsorships.
Minister in the President’s Office Essop Pahad who is, among other things, responsible for the Government Communication and Information Services received two Braille slates, a set of video cassettes to learn Arabic and several bottles of wine and whiskey.
Diversified share portfolios are the norm among MPs of the Democratic Alliance, whose leader Tony Leon is given a ”leader’s allowance” and car by his party. Details of his former partner, New National Party head Marthinus van Schalkwyk, are no longer available since he assumed the premiership of the Western Cape. The province is set to issue its members’ interests later this month.
MPs and ministers also found time for foreign trips: Vodacom flew several to the company’s launch in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo; the Saudi government sponsored a pilgrimage to Mecca for the chief whip of the National Council of Provinces, Mohamed Surty; and in Kuwait Minister of Defence Mosiuoa Lekota got $300 from Denel head Max Sisulu.
A few surprises emerged in the register’s property section: DA chief whip Douglas Gibson still owns a flat in Hillbrow; ANC MP PJ Gerber turned out to be a property magnate with stakes in scores of farms.
Aside from their political talents several MPs and ministers make a buck from their literary abilities: firebrand Pan Africanist Congress MP Patricia de Lille made R15 000 in royalties from her biography; ”Comrade Water” Kasrils got R500 from his autobiography Armed and Dangerous; and ANC MP Billy Nair received an undisclosed amount for his contribution to Essays from Robben Island.