The Democratic Alliance (DA) has laid criminal charges against Deputy President Paul Mashatile. DA leader, John Steenhuisen and national spokesperson Solly Malatsi laid the charges at the Cape Town Central Police Station in the Western Cape on Monday. Picture: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
Cape Town - Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s spokesperson Vukani Mde said they noted that DA leader John Steenhuisen lodged criminal complaints against Mashatile at Cape Town Central police station yesterday, saying they had no further comment.
“The Presidency issued a statement affirming that anyone who has genuine evidence of criminal wrongdoing has a right and even a duty to approach the proper authorities to report it.
“Regardless of what the DA does, there is nothing to add to that statement,” said Mde.
Steenhuisen yesterday lodged four complaints against Mashatile.
One of the complaints related to his capacity as the Gauteng MEC for Finance and Economic Affairs, alleging he abused his position of authority so as to cause the Gauteng provincial government to sell the property for the amount of R15 million to Safdev-Tanganani in 2006.
“In 2009, while the accused was also holding the position of ANC provincial chairperson, the property was resold to the Gauteng provincial government for R80m, with the condition that Safdev-Tanganani receive the tender in order to build public housing.
“Safdev-Tanganani received the tender in 2013 to build 9 520 public houses despite an alleged legal opinion (by advocate Patrick Ngutshana) that found the project to be in violation of the Public Finance Management Act (No 1 of 1999),” the complaint read.
Steenhuisen said other complaints included “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 R28.9m by his company, which allegedly still owed the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements R7m for a failed Alexandra 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 wilfully or grossly negligently providing the registrar with incorrect or misleading details.
“Mashatile also faces allegations of having misled Parliament by failing to properly declare his use of various properties, including a R37m 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 Steenhuisen.
In a statement on February 3, Mashatile said: “Any evidence of wrongdoing on the part of the deputy president should be tested and verified by competent authorities. As Members of Parliament, Cabinet members also make similar oaths and declarations on Parliament’s register of members’ interests. These are public documents to which the DA and all other interested parties have unfettered access.”
zolani.sinxo@inl.co.za