Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s family has once again come under intense public scrutiny following a series of investigative reports detailing their involvement in significant government contracts and the acquisition of a luxury property portfolio. The news has reignited a debate about conflicts of interest, financial transparency, and allegations of nepotism and corruption surrounding a senior public official.
The R49 Million Gauteng Hospital Tender
An investigation by News24 has revealed that two companies with deep links to Mashatile’s sons, Thabiso Mashatile and his half-brother Tinyiko Mvelase, were awarded a R49 million contract by the Gauteng government. The tender, issued in June 2022 by the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development, was for the servicing of fire alarm and sprinkler systems at public hospitals.
- Companies Involved: The contracts were awarded to Ngwato and Manzi Group (NMG) and Modipadi Nokaneng. News24 found that while these companies were ostensibly competitors, they were “inextricably interlinked,” sharing staff, resources, and office space.
- Role of Mashatile’s Sons: Thabiso Mashatile and Tinyiko Mvelase were found to have played critical roles at NMG. They were listed as directors of the company at the time the tender was submitted and were later paid R36.4 million for the work, with a further R12.6 million still owed.
- Concerns and Investigations: The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for an investigation, raising suspicions over the shared resources between the companies and the fact that most hospitals still fail to meet fire safety standards despite the significant payment. Furthermore, the companies have faced allegations of failing to pay a R219,000 settlement to retrenched workers, as per a CCMA agreement.
The R65 Million Luxury Property Portfolio
The controversy extends to the acquisition of a luxury property portfolio, which has brought the total value of assets linked to the Deputy President and his family to over R65 million.
- The R37 Million Waterfall Mansion: Mashatile’s son-in-law, Nceba Nonkwelo, along with Thabiso Mashatile, purchased a R37 million mansion in the exclusive Waterfall area of Midrand. Deputy President Mashatile is currently residing there.
The R28.9 Million Cape Town Mansion: Another property, a luxurious mansion in the affluent Constantia suburb of Cape Town, is valued at R28.9 million. This property is officially registered under a company owned by Nonkwelo. While Mashatile initially denied ownership, he later declared his use of the property in Parliament’s Register of Members’ Interests, stating he “lives there.” This declaration brings the total value of properties he is linked to at R65 million.
Official Denials and Political Fallout
Deputy President Mashatile’s office has consistently denied the allegations, stating he does not personally own the properties or benefit from the government contracts. His spokesperson has stated that the properties are privately owned by his family and the government contracts were awarded in a fair process.
Despite these denials, the scrutiny continues to mount. The DA has laid criminal charges of corruption, nepotism, and patronage against Mashatile, alleging he is the ultimate beneficiary of these transactions. The Hawks’ Public Sector Serious Corruption unit has confirmed that an inquiry into the corruption allegations, including the property purchases, has been registered.
The Parliamentary Ethics Committee has also fined Mashatile R10,000 and reprimanded him for failing to declare a diamond gift given to his wife by controversial businessman Louis Liebenberg, further intensifying the focus on his financial transparency.
