The Democratic Alliance has lodged an ethics complaint against Deputy Minister of Agriculture Rosemary Capa after she admitted in Parliament that she was offered a bribe involving state-linked cattle but did not report the alleged corruption to police.
The admission came during a parliamentary session when Capa was questioned about the incident. When asked whether she had opened a criminal case with law enforcement, the deputy minister responded: “No.”
The DA said the failure to report the alleged bribery attempt raises serious concerns about accountability and ethical standards within government.
“Any attempt to bribe a public representative or member of the Executive cannot be treated casually, ignored, or brushed aside,” the party said in a statement. “Public office bearers have a duty to uphold the law, protect public resources, and report corruption immediately when it is brought to their attention.”
The opposition party argues that Capa’s inaction violates the Code of Ethical Conduct, which requires members to act in accordance with the public trust placed in them and uphold the oath they take in terms of the Constitution.
The nature of the alleged bribe and when it was offered remain unclear. Details about who allegedly attempted to bribe the deputy minister and the specific circumstances surrounding the state-linked cattle have not been disclosed.
The DA said corruption in the agriculture sector undermines emerging and commercial farmers as well as rural communities by depriving them of fair access to opportunities and resources.
“Corruption robs emerging farmers, commercial farmers, and rural communities of fair access to opportunities and resources,” the party said. “It undermines trust in government programmes and weakens the very institutions meant to support agricultural development.”
The party emphasised that there should be “no special protection, no selective accountability, and no silence when corruption is admitted on record”.
The DA is part of the Government of National Unity and has positioned itself as a watchdog against corruption within the coalition arrangement.
“The DA is in the GNU to ensure that corruption is confronted wherever it appears, and that the standards of government are raised in the interests of all South Africans,” the statement said.
The deputy minister’s office has not yet responded to requests for comment on the allegations or the ethics complaint.
The matter will now be considered by the relevant ethics committee, which has the power to recommend sanctions ranging from reprimands to suspension or removal from office, depending on the severity of any findings.
The incident comes at a time when the Department of Agriculture is facing scrutiny over various issues, including the government’s response to disease outbreaks affecting livestock and the implementation of programmes aimed at supporting farmers.
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