PHUTI MOSOMANE
The Deputy President Paul Mashatile says a report by news24 titled “Mashatile Unmasked: The secret luxury life and state capture links of a president-in-waiting”, carried much hearsay.
The digital news platform said “this is just the beginning of the unmasking of Mashatile’s vast network of benefactors who sponsor him to live like a king. It is clear from our investigations his so-called Alex Mafia had expanded rapidly since he became a prominent player on the national political scene.”
In a carefully worded statement issued on Wednesday, Mashatile’s spokesperson Vukani Mde, said the story contains a number of potentially damaging, yet unsubstantiated allegations against the Deputy President.
“Left unchallenged, these could create the impression that the Deputy President does not respect or seek to uphold his oath of office, the dictates of the constitution and national law, or is not mindful of the concerns of ordinary South Africans about corruption and unethical conduct from those who hold public office,” he said.
On Wednesday, Mashatile assured South Africans that he is committed to his oath of office and the principles of the constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
“The Deputy President would also like to reiterate his commitment to fighting corruption and building an ethical and competent developmental state. In line with these commitments, the Deputy President has always conducted himself in ways that comply with the letter and spirit of the law and executive disclosure requirements throughout his career spanning nearly 30 years of service to the people of South Africa.”
“Any allegation or insinuation that he has ever betrayed this commitment is categorically denied,” Mde said.
He said while the Deputy President denies any and all allegations of wrong-doing, “we note that News24 fails to offer any real evidence of misconduct on the part of the Deputy President, choosing instead to rely on innuendo, suggestion, and guilt by association.”
Mde said this is a regrettable approach to journalism and it has the potential to hinder rather than help the cause of accountability in public life.
For the record, the Deputy President has, throughout his life as an activist and public representative, met many people from different walks of life, including the individuals mentioned by News24.
“Naturally, some of the people he has interacted with throughout that long time have become close personal associates. There is nothing wrong or unusual about this, and the attempt to scandalise such associations is unfortunate,” he said.
“The Deputy President has never awarded, influenced, or in any way caused any state or public sector contract to be awarded to the individuals and companies mentioned by News24. Nor does the Deputy President have ownership or permanent use of any properties bought by these individuals and companies. The Deputy President would challenge anyone to prove otherwise,” he said.
Mde said one of the most unfortunate parts of the News24 hit on the Deputy President is the gratuitous suggestion that the Deputy President is “working hard behind the scenes to ascend to the office of president”, supposedly by some underhand means.
“This is strenuously denied.”
Mde said none of Mashatile’s work is in service of some political machinations against or in favour of any government leader.
“To allege otherwise, based only on the say so of nameless sources, is irresponsible in the extreme,” he said.
Mde said Mashatile will not be distracted from the work entrusted to him by the President and the people of South Africa, and will continue to conduct himself in public office based on the ethical dictates that have guided him through a long career in politics: integrity, respect for the law and constitution, and an unwavering commitment to service and to the primary interests of the people of South Africa.
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula questioned the timing of the report by News24.
“Now Mashatile must account for 20 years of a life he lived, let’s say, alongside Edwin Sodi, Mbalula and so on when he becomes deputy president. He was at Luthuli House, he was a treasurer-general of the ANC for over five years. These issues never came up,” he said.
Mbalula said he is not discouraging the report on Mashatile but reiterated “where were these issues, why are they rising now? The man has been around in terms of leading the ANC.”
DA National Spokesperson Solly Malatsi will lodge a complaint on Thursday with the Public Protector against Deputy President Paul Mashatile and ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula for their role in what he termed “State Capture 2.0.”
“While Mashatile has been living a life of luxury in opulent residences owned by individuals who have benefited from state tenders, Mbalula was loaned R3 million by the COO of the National Lotteries Commission – an entity established to assist disadvantaged communities,” Malatsi said.
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