Suspended Zama CEO Mcebisi Mlonzi has been named by former African National Congress chief whip Tony Yengeni as his main benefactor in this year's register of members' interests in Parliament.

In terms of the Code of Conduct for MPs, parliamentarians are obliged to disclose gifts, benefits, sponsorships and financial interests worth more than R350.

Yengeni has also disclosed that he has five million shares in Zama, the forestry company which has been embroiled in an alleged bribing scandal.

Mlonzi was suspended after reports that he had paid company funds to Andile Nkuhlu, the head of a public enterprises government committee, that recommended that Zama get a R335-million forestry deal.

Media reports earlier this year that Mlonzi had also paid for Yengeni's newspaper advertisements and that he was bankrolling Yengeni's legal costs, saw a complaint lodged with the Registrar of Members' Interests by the Democratic Alliance.

However, the complaint was found to be premature as the 2002 register had not been finalised.

On Thursday, the 2002 register was made public.

Under sponsorships, Yengeni names Mlonzi as the man who paid R317 000 for an advert placed in several newspapers in a bid to clear his (Yengeni's) name.

The adverts, which appeared in four Sunday newspapers, came after a series of Sunday Times reports on how Yengeni had received a huge discount on a luxury 4x4 luxury vehicle from an arms company.

Yengeni, and the former MD of the arms company, Michael Woerfel, are currently standing trial on charges of corruption and fraud.

Yengeni also names Mlonzi as the source of his trial fees and expenses, but does not give a figure saying that the court case is still ongoing.

The Sunday Times reported in July that Zama agreed to pay Yengeni's legal bills without the approval of many of its shareholders.

Invoices totalling R300 000 were sent to Zama's Cape Town offices by a Johannesburg firm of attorneys following an undertaking by Mlonzi that the company would settle Yengeni's bill.

Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota disclosed that Denel's Max Sisulu had given him US$300 during a trip to Kuwait, while DA leader Tony Leon that he also receives the use of a motor vehicle and an allowance from his party.

ANC MP Winnie Madikizela-Mandela who was found guilty by the ethics committee last month of not disclosing her interests in, among other things, the Winnie Mandela Family Museum, appears again to have failed to disclose.

ANC MP Pierre-Jeanne Gerber lists almost four pages of property, including farms and plots, while PAC MP Patricia de Lille said she received R15 000 in royalties for her biography written by journalist Charlene Smith.

IFP MP Mandla Msomi - who is under investigation by the committee for failure to disclose discounts on two motor vehicles, as well as allegations by an anonymous complainant - lists directorships in four companies.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and www.iafrica.co.za