Parliament has released the 2025 register listing the financial interests and other benefits of the current Members of Parliament (MPs).
Due to the nature of their jobs, MPs are required to disclose financial interests, such as shares and other financial interests in companies and other corporate entities; remunerated employment or work outside of Parliament; directorships and partnerships; consultancies and retainerships; sponsorships; gifts and hospitality as well as benefits and interest free loans.
In addition, they are required to disclose travel; ownership in land and property; pensions; rented property income generating assets; and trusts.
In fact, there are 13 different categories.
The register is extensive and broken down per political party.
For those curious, it’s interesting to note what gifts in particular they have received and what property MPs own.
By way of an example, let’s take a closer look at what EFF leader Julius Malema (full name Julius Sello Malema) declared.
Julius Malema is one of 46 EFF MPs to feature on the register.
Somewhat interestingly, Malema didn’t declare owning any property or rented property.
Julius Malema register declarations
1. Shares and other financial interests
Nothing to disclose
2. Remunerated employment or work outside of parliament
| Name of employer or business | Type of employment or work performed |
| Director Mgagao Shamba PTY | Farming, Events, Sales |
3. Directorships and partnerships
| Name of the company or partnership | Type of business activity |
| Director Mgagao Shamba PTY | Farming, Events, Sales |
4. Consultancies and retainerships
Nothing to disclose
5. Sponsorships
Nothing to disclose
6. Gifts and hospitality
| Description | Value | Source |
| Bottle of Wine and Lindt Lindor chocolate |
Unknown | Liu Kaiyang of the Embassy of the People”s Republic of China |
| 2 Sheep | Estimate R7 000 | BaPedi Queen, Leganabatho 11 Manyaku Thulare |
7. Benefits and interest free loans
Nothing to disclose
8. Travel
Nothing to disclose
9. Ownership in land and property
Nothing to disclose
10. Pensions
Nothing to declare
11. Rented property
Nothing to declare
12. Income generating assets
Nothing to declare
13. Trusts
| Name of trust | Trustee / Beneficiary |
| Ratanang Family Trust | Ratanang Malema |
| Munzhedzi Family Trust | JS Malema, Mantoa Matlala, Ratanang Malema, Munzhedzi Malema, Kopano Malema |
| Kopano Charity Trust | Charity |
| Mazimbu Investment Trust | JS Malema, Mantoa Matlala, Ratanang Malema, Munzhedzi Malema, Kopano Malema |
Transparency
Declaring such interests enhances transparency and strengthens public trust and confidence in parliamentary processes and decision-making.
Last Friday, the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests adopted the 2025 Register of Members’ Interests per item 12 of the Code of Ethical Conduct and Disclosure of Members’ Interests for National Assembly and Permanent Council Members.
The 2025 register is the second of the seventh Parliament following the 2024 General Elections.
“As per convention following the adoption, the committee resolved to release the register to enable access to the public section of the register. The new code adopted by the sixth Parliament established the submission of interests using the prescribed electronic form, which is aimed at streamlining declarations and making the process seamless and quick.
“The adoption of the electronic declaration submission form was a strategic decision in line with the move to ensure a paperless Parliament. Also, to ensure seamless submission, the office of the Registrar availed staff to support and assist Members of Parliament with their online submissions,” Parliament said.
Registrable interests
Item 12 (7) of the Code is clear that a Member must disclose his/her registrable interests in the first quarter of the financial year.
“The code promotes a culture of openness and accountability, and the release of the register is a bold step in building public trust and confidence. Furthermore, by ensuring accountability of public representatives, the release ensures credibility of the oversight work over the executive,” Parliament said.
As per item 12 (1) of the Code, the Register consists of both a public and confidential section.
The public section of the register is now available to be perused by the public to ensure accountability.
“The Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests further communicates that the 2025 disclosure process had a 100% compliance by the due date of all Members of Parliament. No Member of Parliament submitted late. The committee commends this milestone.”
The full public section of the register can be accessed here: https://tinyurl.com/36vyn5bs
A full report will be published in the Parliament’s Announcements, Tabling’s and Committee Reports.
Anything appear ‘strange’ to you among Julius Malema’s declarations?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
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