Mashatile hits back, denies allegations of secret luxury life
Deputy President Paul Mashatile responded to the News24 investigations article titled ‘MASHATILE UNMASKED | The secret luxury life and state capture links of a president-in-waiting’ on Wednesday, 28 June. He said the allegations were unsubstantiated. MASHATILE DENIES ALLEGATIONS IN ARTICLE The article raises concerns about the lush life Mashatile is reportedly living at the expense of his […]
Deputy President Paul Mashatile responded to the News24 investigations article titled ‘MASHATILE UNMASKED | The secret luxury life and state capture links of a president-in-waiting’ on Wednesday, 28 June. He said the allegations were unsubstantiated.
MASHATILE DENIES ALLEGATIONS IN ARTICLE
The article raises concerns about the lush life Mashatile is reportedly living at the expense of his alleged benefactors, including controversial businessman Edwin Sodi, and makes mention of his “hard work” behind the scenes to become president.
“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,” said the Presidency in a statement.
News24 reported that Mashatile and his alleged benefactors did not respond to requests for comment.
The Presidency stressed that Mashatile denied all allegations of wrongdoing and reaffirmed his commitment to his oath of office.
“…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. This is a regrettable approach journalism and it has the potential to hinder rather than help the cause of accountability in public life,” read the statement.
The Presidency said Mashatile has never awarded contracts to the mentioned companies or used his influence to benefit them.
“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,” read the statement.
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DA TO LODGE COMPLAINT WITH PUBLIC PROTECTOR
The official opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA), said it would lodge a complaint with the Public Protector against Mashatile and ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbaula. The party has dubbed the controversy surrounding both politicians ‘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,” said the DA.
GroundUp reported that the wife of the former NLC COO claimed under oath that her company had loaned R3 million to Mbalula – who was sports minister at the time – to help him purchase a luxury home in Bryanston, Johannesburg.
The party said the allegations against the ANC bigwigs are similar to the incidents that characterised the State Capture era during President Jacob Zuma’s tenure.
DA National spokesperson Solly Malatsi will lodge the complaint at the Public Protector’s Office in Wale Street, Cape Town, on Thursday morning.