Feature

Global Ethics Day 2025 and South Africa's Parliament

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October 15, 2025

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Feature

Monique Doyle

Monique is the core project manager and research lead at PMG. She is a passionate parliamentary nerd!

Why MPs Must Be Ethical

MPs are custodians of public trust. When they act with integrity, they ensure Parliament reflects the values of fairness, justice, and equality enshrined in the Constitution. When MPs behave unethically, it fuels public cynicism and disengagement. But when MPs act ethically, they build trust, legitimacy, and national unity.

MPs make decisions affecting health, education, housing, the economy and justice. If MPs don’t act ethically, policy decisions may favour special interests and not the people. MPs help approve the national budget and oversee how it's spent. When MPs are unethical, for example, by enabling or ignoring corruption, public money is stolen or wasted.

One of Parliament's key roles is to act as a constitutional check (balance) on the power of the Executive. If MPs are corrupt or compromised, they can't effectively challenge wrongdoing or question poor decision-making.

Ethical leadership can reduce corruption, increase efficiency, and direct resources where they are truly needed. Public services can improve when MPs prioritise integrity over personal or political gain.

How can MPs be Ethical?

MPs must follow the existing Code of Conduct

MPs must disclose their financial interests in the Register of Members' Interests, declare gifts and other conflicts of interest which may influence their decisions.

MPs should also refuse lobbying or financial incentives that create conflicts of interest.

MPs should not protect unethical colleagues out of loyalty or party politics.

How the Public Can Hold MPs Accountable?

In a democracy, power belongs to the people and MPs are answerable to the public. Here are practical ways South Africans can ensure their MPs are ethical and accountable. You can also read our blog on How to be an Active Citizen.

1. Know Your MP

Every South African is represented by MPs, both in the National Assembly and in the National Council of Provinces. Contact the party or MP you support via the People’s Assembly website and find out who your local constituency MP is. You can also visit their profile and see which committees they sit on and what their attendance patterns are.

2. Engage with Parliament's Work

The public can attend parliamentary committee meetings (virtually or in person), make written submissions on laws, and follow debates. Committees are where much of the real work happens - oversight, investigations, and policy discussions.

Stay informed and visit the Parliamentary Monitoring Group website to access Committee meeting reports.

Stay informed via PMG, Parliament TV, YouTube live streams, social media pages of Parliament and MPs.

4. Use your voice when MPs act unethically

Write to an MP or Committee via the People’s Assembly website.

Join or support civil society organisations that promote political accountability, like Corruption Watch, OUTA, or the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation.

If you feel an MP has acted unethically, read our blog on how you can lay a complaint against a Member of Parliament for misconduct or breaches of the Code of Ethical Conduct and Disclosure of Members' Interests.

The Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests is a parliamentary body comprised of Members from both the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces and plays a crucial role in promoting transparency, preventing corruption and ensuring ethical conduct in Parliament.

The Committee has investigated several cases in the 7^th Administration:

We tracked the cases that were referred to the Ethics Committee in the 7^th Parliament. The table below gives you an overview of the ethics breaches.

Table 1
MP(s)	Ethics Breach	Date	Complainant	Sanction
Gayton Mackenzie (PA)	The complainant states that the Member made a live video on social media which was directed at her and that Mr Mackenzie threatened her with a court order in relation to an allegation that he stole Joshlin Smith. She also states that he asked PA Members to tell her that court papers were on its way and that he was abusing his powers and threatening her. She states that Mr Mackenzie was inciting violence against her by his party members, which has resulted in her and her family being bashed and bullied, as well as verbal attacks on her sexuality.	26 November 2024	Levona Steenkamp (Member of the public)	No sanction. The Committee noted that the content of the video footage was not in contravention of the provision of Item 9 of the Code and the conduct complained of is not evident in the video footage and the complaint is thus unfounded.
Ashley Sauls (PA)	The complainant states that the member incited violence, behaved in an unethical manner during a live video directed at her, painted her as a negative person, called her vulgar names and defamed her and made accusations against her which has led to her being bashed and bullied through messages from PA members who support Mr Sauls and has also led to verbal attacks on her sexuality.	26 November 2024	Levona Steenkamp (Member of the public)	No sanction. The Committee noted that the content of the video footage was not in contravention of the provision of Item 9 of the Code and the conduct complained of is not evident in the video footage and the complaint is thus unfounded.
Ian Cameron (DA)	Complainant states that the member has a personal vendetta against him and defamed him on Twitter/X relating to allegations that the complainant had his service pistol and laptop stolen from his official vehicle outside a tavern.	13 March 2025	Mzwandile Tiyo (member of public)	No sanction. The committee found that the complaint was unfounded and that the member did not breach the Code
Solomon Patrick Mabilo (ANC),Mluleki Dlelanga (ANC),Mkhuleko Hlengwa (IFP), Nhlamulo Ndhlela (MK), Mzoleli Mrara (ANC), Masethsego Mofokeng (ANC), Maropene Ramokgopa (ANC), Sihle Zikalala (ANC),Andries Nel (ANC)	Did not disclose their financial and registrable interests by the due date – 14 Oct 2024.	13 March 2025	The Committee	A reprimand in the house and a fine of R12500
Fadiel Adams (NCC)	Complainant states that the member posted a video on social media using foul language and insults and falsely accuses the Mayor and City of CT of fuelling violence. He also threatens the female individual that he refers to in the video, that he will approach her employer and also threatens the employer to remove a Facebook post or she will not trade for a day or two. He also threatened to ignore a high court order against him	2 July 2025	George Michalakis (DA)	A reprimand in the House; an apology to the House and the woman referred to in the Facebook post; the member was suspended from his seat in Parliamentary debates and committees for 15 days; the member attends consultation with the Speaker of the NA and Co-Chairpersons of the committee and Acting Registrar for discussions on the ethical conduct required of an MP.
Mikateko Golden Mahlaule (ANC)	It was alleged that the member, who is also the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy, violated the Code of Ethical Conduct and parliamentary duties. The complaint centers on events from an April 1, 2025 committee meeting, accusing Mahlaule of misrepresenting MACUA's communications, ignoring its prior submissions, and misleading the committee about stakeholder engagement. MACUA claims their offers to present critical reports and evidence about illegal mining and government failures were concealed, while less serious matters from other stakeholders were given prominence. The Member is also accused of undermining inclusive public participation, shielding the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources from oversight, and allowing executive influence to compromise parliamentary independence. MACUA seeks a formal investigation and reforms to ensure transparent, fair, and inclusive stakeholder engagement in parliamentary processes.	2 July 2025	Mr Christopher Routledge, Executive Director of the Mining Affected Communities United in Action and the Women Affected by Mining United in Action	The Committee found that the complaint is unfounded and that the Member did not breach the Code.
Paul Mashatile (ANC)	The Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests found that Deputy President Paul Mashatile, MP, breached the Code of Ethical Conduct by failing to disclose a diamond gift received by his wife from alleged fraudster Louis Liebenberg. Although Mashatile acknowledged the gift and later surrendered it to the National Prosecuting Authority, the Committee ruled that the disclosure should have been made regardless of valuation.	31 July 2025	George Michalakis (DA)	The Committee recommended a formal reprimand in the House and an R10,000 fine

Upholding ethical standards in Parliament is not just the duty of MPs, it's a shared responsibility between Parliament and the public.

If you witness unethical behaviour from your elected representatives, take action. Your voice can help hold them accountable and protect the integrity of Parliament.

If you see something, say something! Your voice matters.