By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) Integrity Commission (IC) Chairperson Frank Chikane says media reports that the commission has cleared Deputy president Paul Mashatile are misleading and inaccurate.
Chikane was speaking to ENCA earlier today.
He explained that the Commission is not a court, and does not clear members.
Mashatile appeared before the Commisssion over two luxury properties – worth R65-million – that he had declared in Parliament’s Register of Members’ Interests.
Mashatile had declared ownership of the two properties – a multi-bedroom mansion in Constantia, Cape Town, worth R28-million, and another in Waterfall, Midrand, worth R37-million.
He was also quizzed about his relationship with controversial Gauteng businessman Edwin Sodi and his ex-lovers Norma Mbatha and Gugu Nkosi.
Chikane said a report was presented to the National Executive Committee (NEC) , but no decisions have been taken yet.
The report revealed that Mashatile explained that his residing at the family homes in Waterfall and Cape Town was ordinary for anyone with a family.
Mashatile also explained to the Commission that with regards to Mbatha and Nkosi, he had long cut ties with them.
Since becoming the second-most powerful government official, Mashatile has been dodging questions about his glamorous lifestyle, especially his homes.
Parliament’s ethics committee also fined Mashatile R10 000 for failing to declare a diamond gift to his wife. This relatively small penalty has been criticised as a slap on the wrist, further eroding public trust in the accountability mechanisms meant to keep leaders in check.
There was controversy also over the violent actions of his VIP protection unit, caught on camera assaulting motorists on the N1 highway in 2023 – an incident that sparked national outrage over the abuse of state security resources.
Despite all of this, Mashatile has strongly denied any wrongdoing, dismissing the allegations as part of a smear campaign designed to weaken his leadership ambitions. He remains firmly in the running to become the ANC’s next president.