DA Welcomes Ethics Ruling Against Deputy President Over Liebenberg Diamond

• Ethics Committee Ruling Against Mashatile: The Parliamentary Joint Ethics Committee found Deputy President Paul Mashatile guilty of failing to disclose a diamond gift, leading to a reprimand and a R10,000 fine, highlighting issues of transparency.
• The DA’s Reaction and Call for Accountability: The Democratic Alliance welcomed the decision as a victory for government accountability and announced plans to pursue further parliamentary questions to uncover additional details.
• Outstanding Questions from the DA: The DA seeks clarity on potential other gifts from Liebenberg, the value of the diamond, and the nature of Mashatile’s relationship with Liebenberg and his wife.
• Broader Concerns Over Asset Declaration Failures: This case adds to previous concerns over Mashatile’s failure to declare a R28.9 million property, raising questions about transparency and ethics in public office.
• Significance and Future Steps: The ruling is significant as it represents rare parliamentary action against a sitting deputy president, with the DA demanding transparency and possibly further investigation into Mashatile’s dealings.

In a formal statement, the Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomed the guilty finding issued by the Parliamentary Joint Ethics Committee against Deputy President Paul Mashatile. The committee concluded that Mashatile failed to disclose a diamond gift given to his wife by alleged fraudster Louis Liebenberg, resulting in a reprimand and a R10,000 fine.

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What the DA Said

DA Chief Whip George Michalakis MP — who lodged the initial ethics complaint in March — described the outcome as a necessary victory for accountability in government. According to Michalakis:

• The ethics committee confirmed Mashatile’s failure to publicly declare the gift.
• The diamond has since been surrendered to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

Outstanding Questions from the DA

The DA indicated that the ethics report raises critical unanswered questions:

• What other gifts might the deputy president or his wife have received from Liebenberg?
• Did Mashatile return anything in exchange for the diamond?
• What is the declared value of the diamond, which is still pending verification?
• What is the precise nature of the relationship between Mashatile, his wife, and Liebenberg?

The DA has vowed to seek clarity through formal Parliamentary questions, pushing for transparency and accountability.

Context: Asset-Declaration Failures

This ruling compounds earlier concerns over Mashatile’s ethics. The deputy president has also come under scrutiny for failing to declare a R28.9 million Constantia residence—a claim he has since clarified, stating that the property is owned by his son-in-law and only declared as a place of residence.

Why This Matters

• It marks a rare action against a sitting deputy president by Parliament.
• The DA’s complaint underscores the push for stronger ethics enforcement across the political spectrum.
• Missing disclosures by public officials undermine public trust and hinder transparency in governance.

At a Glance

Looking Ahead

The DA plans to demand answers and possible further investigation regarding the relationship between Mashatile and Liebenberg. Ultimately, the party says, “South Africans deserve transparency” from their elected officials, especially those serving in the highest public office.