Deputy President Jacob Zuma will not be called to answer questions when parliament's ethics committee meets today on whether, among other things, he failed to declare gifts and benefits from his financial adviser, Schabir Shaik.

Parliament's code requires that all benefits be declared.

The committee is to consider the documents for which it called after it had discussed a comprehensive report from the registrar of members' interests, Fazela Mahomed, on her investigation into whether Zuma had made a full disclosure of his interests.

Luwellyn Landers, chairman of the ethics committee, said the documents had not been sought from Zuma.

He said he could not say whether Zuma would be called before the committee in future as "this would be pre-empting" today's meeting.

Zuma had given the committee "excellent co-operation", he said.

The National Directorate of Public Prosecutions has asked parliament whether Zuma has declared, in the register of members' interests, R1.2 million it alleges he received in gifts or benefits from Shaik or from Shaik's group of companies.

Shaik is facing trial on criminal charges.

The ethics committee is also required to establish whether the deputy president declared his interest in a company or a close corporation.

Among the allegations the committee is investigating is that Zuma "lobbied (in return) for remuneration". MPs are prohibited from lobbying on behalf of commercial interests for pay.

Louis Green, deputy president of the African Christian Democratic Party, has been suspended from the committee for contravening its rules by disclosing to the press details of the panel's discussions and information put before it.

Such information may not be made public.

Green has said he does not regret speaking to a Johannesburg newspaper as he believes it is in the public's interest to know what information has been given to the committee.

With acknowledgements to Andre Koopman and the Cape Times.