By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Parliament has published the annual register of members’ interests on Wednesday, only 24 days since the closing date of the declarations.
The report was released in terms of Section 9.2 of the Code of Ethical Conduct and Disclosure of Members’ Interests for National Assembly and Permanent Council Members.
“The release of the Register entrenches Parliament’s commitment to building public trust and confidence in their public representatives, thereby protecting and promoting the integrity of Parliament”, it said.
African National Congress (ANC) MP and Deputy President Paul Mashatile has been listed for the first time on the report with two houses in Sandton and Midrand.
A R37-million house in an exclusive Waterfall estate in Midrand, Johannesburg. The mansion is owned by one of his children and son-in-law.
It was then registered in Nonkwelo Investment Holdings (NIH) name, according to deeds office records.
It is alleged that the Gauteng Partnership Fund (GPF), a Gauteng government entity under Human Settlements, offered excessive loans spanning more than a decade to Nonkwelo Investments.
The mentioned loans totalled more than R30 million between 2013 and 2017. These loans were meant to develop a property in Joburg for student accommodation.
The MEC of Human Settlements and Infrastructure Development in Gauteng, Lebogang Maile, has since ordered a probe into the R37 million Waterfall mansion linked to Mashatile.
Maile has ordered the Board of Directors of the Gauteng Partnership Fund (GPF) to undertake an urgent investigation in this regard.
Mashatile also received gifts from Tanzania, Russia, China, the King and Queen of Belgium and the new Galaxy Z Fold 5 from Samsung. While the value of the device was listed as none on the register, according to the Samsung website, it has a sticker price of R42,999.
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen declared Durban July tickets, a rhino darting experience and sponsored travel from the Brenthurst Foundation to attend a workshop on authoritarianism in Poland.
The party’s chief whip, Siviwe Gwarube, has declared paid consultancy work and sponsored travel for the African Liberal Network.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema declared remunerated employment outside of Parliament from his farming business, the membership of three family trusts including Ratanang Family Trust, Kopano Charity Trust and Munzhedzi Family Trust.
His deputy, Floyd Shivambu, has only declared a property in Gauteng and books from the Chinese embassy.
Read the 2023 Register of Members of National Assembly and Permanent Council Members Declarations here : 2023 register of declarations.