Deputy PresidenP has responded strongly to a series of unfounded allegations circulating on social media, particularly via the account known as GoolamMV, and in a report by News24. The Deputy President described the claims as a deliberate effort to undermine his reputation and destabilize his position within the African National Congress (ANC).
In a statement, Mashatile highlighted that the recent post by GoolamMV consists of “fabrications, exaggerations, innuendo, and outright lies,” aimed at tarnishing his public image. He accused certain political entities and media outlets of pursuing a calculated agenda to discredit him since his arrival at the Union Buildings.
Among the false claims attributed to GoolamMV is the assertion that Mashatile is under investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), the Hawks, and the Public Protector. Mashatile firmly denied these allegations, calling them baseless and part of a wider “pressure campaign” against him.
He specifically addressed four major falsehoods propagated by the account and News24:
- House Purchase: The claim that Mashatile purchased a house in Cape Town for R28 million in cash is categorically false. He stated that he owns no properties in Cape Town, apart from the house he and his late wife bought with a bank loan in Johannesburg.
- Waterfall Estate Property: The Deputy President clarified that he resides in a property in Waterfall Estate, which was jointly purchased by his sons and son-in-law through normal bank loans. He does not own the property outright.
- Tender Allegations: It was claimed that Mashatile’s sons secured government tenders while he was MEC. He refuted this, asserting that no government department he oversaw awarded tenders to family-linked companies.
- Investigation of Son-in-Law: The allegation that the Hawks are investigating the source of funds for his son-in-law’s property purchase is unsubstantiated. Mashatile stated that his son-in-law, Nceba Nonkwelo, is a legitimate businessperson whose dealings have no connection to government tenders.
Mashatile expressed concern over the misuse of state institutions in political smear campaigns and reaffirmed his confidence in law enforcement agencies. He urged the public to view these allegations critically and emphasized that they are merely attempts to damage his standing in society.
The Deputy President concluded by restating his commitment to transparency and integrity, insisting that he will not be swayed by unfounded attacks.
