Johannesburg — OPPOSITION parties yesterday pressed President Jacob Zuma to declare his financial interests to promote transparency in government - particularly in light of calls by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) for lifestyle audits of politicians and ministers.

The call was fuelled by weekend reports that the president had not made any declaration of his financial interests, assets and liabilities as required by law.

The Executive Members Ethics Code says every Cabinet member must disclose full particulars -- including those of their spouse, any permanent companion and dependent children -- within 60 days of taking office.

Presidency spokesman Vincent Magwenya told the Sunday Independent last week that Zuma had not declared his interests because it was unclear whether he really needed to declare them.

"The lack of clarity was on the interpretation of the language in the act," Magwenya said.

The Executive Members Ethics Act, in its definition, says the Cabinet means the Cabinet referred to in section 91 (1) of the constitution. Th is section states that the Cabinet consists of the president, as head of the Cabinet, a deputy president and ministers.

The act also states that the president has to publish a code of ethics which must require of Cabinet members and deputy ministers to disclose all their financial interests when assuming office and any financial interests acquired after assuming office, including gifts, sponsored foreign travel, hospitality and other benefits of a material nature.

Cosatu recently called for the implementation of lifestyle audits for ministers and MPs.

The trade union federation's general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, reiterated the call on Saturday when he said the issue of lifestyle audits was crucial in the fight against corruption in the public sector.

"We believe that you cannot be a people's champion during the day, but at night you count shares that have been obtained through exploitation," Vavi said.

He said MPs, members of provincial legislatures and local councilors were supposed to be audited to prevent conflict of interest.

Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille said yesterday the talk about the lack of clarity in the law was unnecessary. "There is no grey area in the law.

"In fact, Zuma has got no choice because the legal precedent was set by former state president Thabo Mbeki , who declared his assets. And if he did, then so should Zuma."

Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader Athol Trollip said the fact that Zuma had still not declared his financial interests demonstrated the level of contempt he had for transparency in government.

"President Zuma needs to stop trying to bend the law to suit his interests. President Mbeki declared his interests. The law is absolutely explicit that a president must declare his interests."

Trollip said Zuma's refusal to do so spoke volumes, particularly after he had rejected calls for a lifestyle audit last month on the grounds that "within government, we have measures in place that regulate members of the executive as well as public servants with regards to the disclosure of business interests, gifts and assets".

With Sapa