DA lodges ethics complaint against Hlophe over non-disclosure of interests

DA parliamentary leader George Michalakis says the party has referred a complaint against John Hlophe to the Registrar over alleged non-disclosure of interests.

The Democratic Alliance has lodged an ethics complaint against Opposition Leader John Hlophe over interests it says were not disclosed in his parliamentary register.

The complaint follows information which the DA says is contained in the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) and Searchworks databases showing that Hlophe remains an active director of two companies and is the registered owner of a property in Pinelands, Cape Town.

According to the party, Hlophe is still listed as a director of Wynvallei 41 Eiendomme (Pty) Ltd and Malebo Wine Farmers CC.

The DA said he is also the registered owner of a property in Pinelands.

However, Hlophe’s register of interests for the period ending June 30, 2026, records “nothing to disclose”, according to the party.

The DA leader in Parliament, George Michalakis, said the party had referred the matter to Parliament’s Registrar, submitting supporting documents for an investigation.

The complaint centres on Parliament’s requirement for members to disclose their interests in accordance with the Code of Ethical Conduct and Disclosures of Members’ Interests.

The DA said the disclosure of interests was not optional and that members were required to make their interests public.

“Disclosure of interests in terms of the Code is a requirement by Parliament and members are duty-bound to make such disclosures public,” Michalakis said.

The latest declaration follows a similar entry in Hlophe’s previous register of interests.

In July 2025, IOL reported that Hlophe’s June 2025 Register of Members’ Interests showed “nothing to disclose” across all categories, including directorships and partnerships, as well as land and property ownership.

The DA said it believed the matter could not simply be treated as a failure to make the required disclosures in good faith.

“The DA is of the opinion that Hlophe could not have failed to make such disclosures in good faith and therefore we have submitted this complaint with supporting documents to the Registrar for investigation,” Michalakis said.