JZ declares financial interests

NONI MOKATI

JOHANNESBURG - President Jacob Zuma yesterday finally succumbed to pressure and declared his financial interests – however, opposition parties are far from satisfied.

In a statement, Zuma’s lawyer Michael Hulley said his client had provided a list of assets and benefits received by him or members of his family to the secretary of Cabinet Vusi Mavimbela as required by Section Five of government’s Executive Ethics Code.

Hulley further stated that his engagement with Zuma had been going on over a period of time in order to ascertain the nature of the disclosure to be made and the extent to which declarations of family members were required.

But Democratic Alliance (DA) parliamentary leader Athol Trollip, who early this week accused Zuma of contravening the law, told The Citizen that the question was why Zuma was doing this now.

“The Public Protector Thulisile Madonsela needs to investigate why Zuma did not meet his deadline.’’

Christian Democratic Alliance leader Thenius Botha said while the party appreciated that the list had been drawn up, it was disappointed at Zuma’s lack of transparency.