By The Democratic Alliance (DA) has laid criminal charges against the Deputy President of South Africa Paul Mashatile on Monday, 12 February 2024, following allegations of corruption that involve a Constantia mansion worth R28.9 million and a R37 million Waterfall house in Gauteng.
The DA leader John Steenhuisen says the party submitted a full dossier to President Cyril Ramaphosa on 2 February, allowing him a full week to consider the matter and use the State of the Nation Address (SONA) to announce the removal of Mashatile from office and subject him to an investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
However, according to the DA Leader, Ramaphosa ignored their submission and they were left with no other choice but to formally lay criminal charges against Paul Mashatile.
“It comes as no surprise that President Ramaphosa has, once again, done nothing to act against the corrupt cadres within his government and within his own party. In light of President Ramaphosa’s indifference and sheer paralysis, the DA has now taken matters into our own hands to rid our country and its government of the ANC’s corruption,” said the DA Leader.
The DA alleges that there are several allegations levelled against the Deputy President that span from almost two decades. The allegations include; an intricate web of nepotism and family patronage of which Mashatile is allegedly the ultimate beneficiary, with the most recent scandal being the purchase of a Constantia mansion by Mashatile’s son-in-law, Nonkwelo, at a cost of R28,9 million by his company which allegedly still owes the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements R7 million for a failed Alexandria housing project.
“The DA has also submitted a formal complaint to parliament’s Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests for a breach of the members’ Code of Conduct by Mashatile, for failure to disclose registrable interests, or for willfully or grossly negligently, providing the Registrar with incorrect or misleading details.
Mashatile also faces allegations for having misled parliament for failing to properly declare his use of various properties, including a R37 million Waterfall house in Gauteng. In addition to this, Mashatile also breached the Code of Conduct by failing to act in all respects in a manner that is consistent with the integrity of their office or the government,” said John Steenhuisen.
Steenhuisen further accused President Cyril Ramaphosa for not being serious in combating corruption within the African National Congress (ANC) and in government. He says had he implemented the lifestyle audits on cabinet ministers as he promised in his first SONA, Mashatile would have been long exposed.
“The integrity of the South African government is but laughable when our country’s second in command has such a large cloud of dire corruption allegations hanging over his head. President Ramaphosa can no longer bury his head in the sand and hope it will somehow blow over.
There now exists more than sufficient evidence to suggest that Paul Mashatile is, and has been involved in egregious corruption during his tenure of various executive positions over the past two decades, and it is now time for him to face the consequences,” said John Steenhuisen.
