In SA, MP stands for ‘Many Presents’

From a R180 000 visit to Israel, personal account debt worth R40 000 being settled by a benefactor, return business class flights, Durban July trips, DStv festival junkets and Miss SA tickets, to livestock, cellphones and bags – SA members of parliament did quite well out of gifts in 2022. The joint committee on ethics and members’ interests yesterday released the Register of Members’ Interests for 2022 to “build public trust and confidence in public representatives”. The register revealed some of the most expensive gifts MPs received ranged from live sheep and cows, to then Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs…