Johannesburg – MPs who fail to disclose their business interests on time, should be disciplined beyond naming and shaming, the Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM) said on Thursday.

“It is obvious that several MPs don’t take their obligation to account seriously enough and have contravened the code of conduct,” it said in a statement.

“The PSAM calls upon the joint committee on ethics and members’ interests to recommend to Parliament that serious action [beyond a mere reprimand and publication of implicated MPs names] be taken, especially in instances where MPs have repeatedly failed to account on time.”

Parliament’s ethics committee said on Wednesday that 59 MPs, including at least one Cabinet member, had missed the 23 August deadline to disclose their business interests.

The 2013 Register of Members’ Interests was released during a committee meeting. It lists the business interests, sponsorships, gifts, property, travel, pensions and other financial interests of MPs.

Parliament’s members’ interests registrar Faziela Mahomed said a further three MPs had not handed in their disclosure forms at all.

They included two MPs who were ill, and former communications minister Dina Pule, who was suspended from Parliament before the deadline.

Mahomed recommended to the committee that the three be given an extension to complete their forms.

The PSAM said the code of conduct allowed for a reprimand, a fine not exceeding 30 days’ salary, a reduction of salary or allowance for not more than 15 days, and the suspension of privileges or a member’s right to a seat in parliamentary debate.

– SAPA