Parliament's ethics committee is investigating three charges against Jacob Zuma that he failed to declare business interests and benefits in contravention of parliament's code of conduct.

It was the first time the ethics committee had gone public on the nature of the charges against the deputy president.

One of the charges is that Zuma "lobbied for remuneration" in contravention of the code that prohibits MPs from lobbying for business interests or for political pressure groups in return for money. Another charge is that he failed to declare his interest in a company or close corporation.

Ethics committee chairperson Luwellyn Landers refused to elaborate on the charges.

Zuma has been investigated in the past for allegedly soliciting a R500 000 bribe from a French company that won a major contract in the multibillion-rand arms deal.

Landers said after the meeting on Monday that the joint committee on ethics and members' interests had received a comprehensive report from the registrar of members' interests, Fazela Mohamed, on the allegations against Zuma.

The committee had discussed her investigation and findings at length and had requested further documentation.

The further documentation required had not been requested of Zuma, Landers said in response to a question.

Landers said the deputy president had responded to the initial complaint lodged against him and had given the committee excellent co-operation.

He said the committee would meet next week and hoped to complete the matter "sooner rather than later".

"I don't see ourselves not disposing of this matter before the end of the year," Landers said.

The Star reported on Monday that Zuma was due to appear before parliament's ethics committee later in the day.

Zuma was in fact not called to the committee on Monday, although it has not ruled out calling him in the future. The error is regretted.

With acknowledgements to Andre Koopman and The Star.