Defence minister Mosiuoa Lekota should be brought to book for his reported failure to disclose business interests to Parliament, two opposition parties said yesterday.

The Democratic Alliance contended he should resign or be fired, while the Freedom Front said an apology from the minister would not be sufficient.

Both parties called on the Ethics Committee to investigate the matter without delay.

Lekota's spokesman Sam Mkhwanazi said the minister is in touch with the Speaker and will probably make a statement to Parliament early next week.

The Mail & Guardian reported earlier in the day Lekota has interests in a fuel distribution agency and a wine cellar in the Free State.

It said Lekota holds shares in Prestprops, which trades as BZL Petroleum. The company distributes Caltex diesel products to farmers and businessmen in Harrismith and Bethlehem.

Lekota is, furthermore, a director of the Landzicht winery in the Free State, an interest acquired after he left the premiership of the province in 1996.

He is also a director of the holding company GWK Corporation.

The newspaper said Landzicht supplies the Free State government with wines and receives national funding to exhibit its products abroad.

Lekota admitted to having failed to declare his interests to Parliament as required by law.

The newspaper quoted him as saying: "It was my intention to disclose my interests. It is accurate that in practice I did not disclose."

The minister acknowledged - according to the newspaper - that he is entitled to 33% of Prestprops. BZL reportedly sells more than two million litres of diesel a month.

He told the newspaper he intends pulling out of the company.

Free State government spokesman Kgotso Tau denied knowledge of any formal relationship between the province and Landzicht.

Landzict cellar manager Ian Sieg said Lekota was offered a directorship after he purchased land and established a vineyard in the area.

The Landzicht board of directors was dissolved after GWK bought the cellar. It recently appointed Lekota as director, Sieg said.

The DA's Douglas Gibson said ministers have a stronger duty than ordinary MPs to declare their interests.

They are required to make declarations in terms of the Executive Members Ethics Act.

"His [Lekota's] failure to comply leaves him with no alternative but to resign," said Gibson.

"If he fails to do so, President Thabo Mbeki should set an example of clean government and fire him."

FF leader Pieter Mulder said the Ethics Committee should meet as a matter of urgency.

Lekota is also chairman of the African National Congress.

"A mere apology that he forgot or that he did not know, will not be enough," Mulder said.

Mkhwanazi said the Mail & Guardian report contained "certain inaccuracies".

"But we don't intend to deal with them until (the minister has) made his statement in Parliament," Mkhwanazi said.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and The Natal Witness.