By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Rise Mzansi has asked the office of the Public Protector to investigate the breaches of the Executive Members’ Ethics Act by Deputy President Paul Mashatile.
The party’s call follows an exposé by News24 which claimed that Mashatile’s lifestyle is funded by entrepreneurs with government contracts, including corruption-accused Edwin Sodi.
Rise Mzansi’s Mabine Seabe says they wrote to acting Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka on Tuesday, as allegations of the deputy president being linked to state capture should not be taken lightly.
“At face value, the deputy president has committed serious violations of at least the constitution, his oath of office, and the Executive Members’ Ethics Act.
“The South African political establishment has built a culture of zero accountability, especially when those in power are alleged to be or found to be corrupt or involved in other acts of criminality. The powerful have placed themselves above the law”.
Seabe say if Mashatile is found guilty, he must be held accountable in the same way that any citizen without the backing of public office would be.
“Justice and the rule of law are cornerstones of our constitutional democracy, and any actions inconsistent with those values must be treated with the utmost seriousness.”
He said Rise Mzansi would not let this matter rest until it reached its natural and legal conclusion.
The Executive Members’ Ethics Act is the same legislation in terms of which complaints were laid against President Cyril Ramaphosa with regard to the Phala Phala allegations