Deputy President Paul Mashatile answered oral questions in the National Assembly on Thursday.
Image: Phando Jikelo / RSA Parliament
Deputy President Paul Mashatile on Thursday said he will not do anything that was against the rules or interfere with procurement for the benefit of his friends.
Mashatile also said he would not stop being friends with people he knew, just because they are wealthy.
“That, I will not do. If you say I should not do that, I agree with you that I will not,’ he said.
Mashatile was responding to BOSA MP Nobantu Hlazo-Webster, during a question-and-answer session in the National Assembly, on media reports alleging that individuals linked to Mashatile have business ties to the company that was awarded the multi-million rand lotto licence tender.
Hlazo-Webster had challenged Mashatile, saying that Section 96 of the Constitution provides that Ministers may not expose themselves to any risk of a conflict between their official responsibilities and their private interests.
Hlazo-Webster said there appeared to be an increasingly inter-connected network between politically connected individuals, lottery interests, and business entities that are connected to Mashatile.
“Did you or anyone connected to your office have any involvement, influence, or interest in this tender process? And if so, would you support a full investigation into the process in line with nobody being above the rule of law and in line with Section 96 of the Constitution,” she asked.
In response, Mashatile said Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau had delayed the appointment of the lotto tender, pending an investigation.
“You don't need another investigation. That investigation, if I'm correct, it's probably about to be concluded.”
He also said there were many people he knew and some have been his friends for more than 20 or 30 years.
“When I went to politics, they went into business. So you are saying to me, please don't see them anymore. Don't associate with them because they are in business."
Mashatile said he will not walk away from his friends, because they are in business.
“But what I will not do is to go to a department of government and say, "give my friend the business’. That I will not do, because I have never done that, but I will not walk away from my friends, because they're in business, or are in church, or are in politics.”
Mashatile said the people, whom Hlazo-Webster referred to, were credible businesspeople and media house, News24, 'did not say for once they were doing irregular business or anything illegal'.
However, DA deputy chief whip Baxolile Nodada said no one was saying that Mashatile must abandon his friends.
“It is actually problematic when you have got friends that are accused of fraud, racketeering, and money laundering. The person that won the multi-billion tender for the lotto contract accompanied you to the State of the Nation Address. Don't you find that fishy for them to get that multi-billion tender,” he said.
Nodada also said Mashatile had been accused of living in a R70 million mansion he and his son could not afford.
“Now, based on the above, do you think the President should take action again?” Nodada asked.
ANC MP Cameron Dugmore raised a point of order, saying the rule says that no member may impute improper motives to any other member.
National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza upheld the point of order and stated that “a member who wishes to bring any improper or unethical conduct on the part of another member to the attention of the House may do so only by way of a substantive motion”.
Nodada withdrew his utterances but insisted that Mashatile should answer the question.
In response, Mashatile said many of the people he invited to SONA were friends he had known for more than 20 or 30 years.
“If they are (businesspeople), I don't recall any of them doing any irregular business or being criminals. If they are criminals, they have been criminalised by Honourable Nodada.”
He charged that Nodada was saying Sizekhaya Holdings chairman Moses Tembe was a criminal because he won the lotto tender.
“I don't know him to be a criminal, but if you think so, you can go to any nearest police station and open a case. If you know anybody around the Deputy President, or including my children, who are criminals, go to the nearest police station and open a case.”
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