By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Deputy President Paul Siphokosa Mashatile has described the report by News24 as potentially damaging, yet with unsubstantiated allegations against him.
News24 this week published the report, which suggests controversial businessmen, including Edwin Sodi, have been bankrolling a life of luxury and excess for Mashatile.
Mashatillle says the report create the impression that the Deputy President does not respect or seek to uphold his oath of office, or is not mindful of the concerns of ordinary South Africans about corruption and unethical conduct from those who hold public office.
In a statement from his office, “Mashatile would like to assure the nation 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. “
“While the Deputy President denies any and all allegations of wrongdoing, Mashatile note that the publication 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 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 the publication. 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.”
Mashatile has never awarded, influenced, or in any way caused any state or public sector contract to be awarded to the individuals and companies mentioned in the report. 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, read the statement.”
“One of the most unfortunate parts of the report 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.
Meanwhile African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has questioned the timing of the report.
“Now Mashatile must account for 20 years of a life he lived, let’s say, alongside 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.
“Now I’m not saying anything wrong that people purport the deputy president is doing must not be reported. But where were these issues, why are they rising now? The man has been around in terms of leading the ANC,” added Mbalula.
“The ANC will look at these matters in terms of integrity, how it affects it, and then we’ll make a proper examination through the integrity commission on those issues.”