President Jacob Zuma addressing crowds after his inauguration as President of South Africa. (Photo Courtesy BuaNews)

Johannesburg — PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma yesterday finally declared his financial interests but it is still unclear what the interests are.

South Africans would only have access to part of what Zuma disclosed - that which is contained in the public parts of the register held by the secretary to the Cabinet, Vusi Mavimbela.

But Zuma's spokesman Vincent Magwenya said the public part of the register could only be viewed after permission was sought from Mavimbela's office. "I haven't seen it. You have to request them to give you access to it," he said yesterday.

Zuma's disclosure was 10 months late. The law required him to declare his financial interests within 60 days of assuming office in May last year.

On Monday the Presidency said the process would take time given the size of his family.

But after much pressure from opposition parties this week, Zuma's lawyer Michael Hulley yesterday said the president had provided a list to Mavimbela containing "any gifts, benefits or financial interests held or received either by him or by any family member", as required by the executive ethics code.

Hulley said Zuma did not hold any directorship, membership or shareholding in any company, either public or private. None of the gifts given to Zuma were of extraordinary monetary value, he said.

The Democratic Alliance said yesterday Zuma's disclosure did not conclude the matter and the party would not withdraw the complaint lodged on Tuesday with public protector Thulisile Madonsela.

"The president's disclosure, a full 245 days late, does nothing to nullify the need for there to be consequences any more or less than handing in your tax returns nine months late would do," said parliamentary leader Athol Trollip.

Hulley blamed the delay in Zuma's disclosure on legal consultations "to ascertain the nature of the disclosure to be made as well as the extent to which declarations of family members were required".

He said anomalies in the executive code included a clause stating that if a gift worth more than R1000 had been offered, permission to retain it had to be sought from the president. "He in essence sits in judgment of himself," Hulley said.

"In deciding whether to accept or retain any gift, the president has applied the same high ethical standard he otherwise would have in respect of other members of the executive," Hulley said.

The news of Zuma's failure to disclose his financial interests this week were another public relations nightmare for his aides after huge criticism about his illegitimate child with the daughter of a close friend, last month's state of the nation address and bad publicity commentary by the British press during his visit to London last week.