Range Rovers, Kruger trips, daggers, and whiskey among the most lavish gifts for South African politicians

Over the past five years, South African Parliament members have received numerous lavish and expensive gifts.

These gifts have ranged from a Range Rover valued at R730,000 to trips to the Kruger Game Reserve for R40,000.

There have also been odd gifts, like a “picture”, received by Minister Gwede Mantashe in 2023 from the Central Energy Fund, valued at R50,000.

Various kinds of alcohol are also among politicians’ more high-end gifts, including a R9,700 Penfold Wine and a R5,000 bottle of Japanese whiskey.

These were all gifts recorded in the Register of Members’ Interests between 2020 and 2025.

Every year, South Africa’s Parliament requires its members, including ministers, to disclose their financial interests, remuneration or work outside of Parliament, directorships, sponsorships, gifts, and properties, among other things.

These interests are then compiled into a register, which is released publicly by Parliament every year.

According to the Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG), this is a global practice, with Parliaments worldwide requiring their members to declare their interests.

“Declaring such interests enhances transparency and strengthens public trust and confidence in parliamentary processes and decision-making,” PMG said.

“The register upholds members’ accountability to observe the highest standards of behaviour and conduct.” 

“Disclosing interests also helps to ensure conflicts do not arise between a member’s public duty and private interests.”

In South Africa, if members fail to fully disclose their interests, they may face penalties under the Code of Ethical Conduct and Disclosure of Financial Interests.

These penalties could range from a reprimand, a R10,000 fine, a fine not exceeding 30 days’ salary, or even the suspension of a member’s right to participate in parliamentary debates and committees.

When it comes to gifts, in particular, the code requires Members of Parliament (MPs) to declare any gift with a monetary value that exceeds R3,000.

For gifts under this threshold, MPs only need to declare them if they have the potential to create a conflict of interest.

Lavish gifts for South African MPs

Daily Investor combed through every Register of Members’ Interests from 2020 to 2025 to identify the most expensive and lavish gifts politicians have received over the years.

We found that one of the most expensive was a 2015 Range Rover received by former Eastern Cape Premier Phumulo Masualle in 2023.

Valued at R730,000, Masualle disclosed that he received the vehicle from “family”, along with a 2009 BMW 750, valued at R240,000.

Currently serving as the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe has recorded some of the most lavish gifts over the past five years.

In 2023 alone, he received gifts and hospitality worth over R65,000. This included a R309 pair of Amplify earphones, a “picture” valued at R50,000, and a Penfold Wine worth R9,719.16.

There were also some strange and unique gifts recorded by MPs over the past five years.

In 2023, former Trade Minister Ebrahim Patel recorded receiving a Chinese tea set from the Chinese Minister of Commerce, valued at around R4,329.

Conveniently, Patel also received a teaspoon and sugar bowl set from the South African Sugar Association worth R1,688 in the same year.

Another odd gift was a box of silver Omani daggers, valued at around R2,000, from the Russian Prime Minister, which Deputy President Paul Mashatile received in 2025.

He explained that the daggers were made in 2022 and consist of three sets dedicated to animals, birds and fish that are mainly found in the territory of the Russian Federation.

That same year, Mashatile recorded a Japanese bottle of wine and whiskey, valued at R2,000 each.

Trips are also common gifts among South African politicians. DA MP Thomas Walters shared in 2021 that he was invited to a year-end function as a plus-one on an excursion to the Kruger Game Reserve.

He said his wife received an award at this function, which was sponsored by her company, Brightrock Insurance. 

Walters said that, because it is a group booking, individual costs are difficult to gauge, but he estimated the value at around R40,000.

DA MP Samantha Graham-Maré also recorded an event among her gifts in 2025. She listed that she had received two tickets to go watch the Springboks vs Barbarians game in June last year, valued at around R3,000.

Also in 2025, Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina recorded receiving four hospitality tickets to the Cape Town Jazz Festival, valued at R4,600.

Majodina received numerous gifts last year, with a total value exceeding R28,000. Among these gifts were a Polo handbag (R2,400), a double mink blanket (R1,300), a bottle of Christian Dior perfume (R2,600), and six boxes of sanitary towels (R5,320).

She also received sheep from the ANC branch in Ward 60 of Ethekwini, valued at R2,500.