South Africa’s Deputy President Paul Mashatile defended himself Friday after failing to disclose a diamond gift given to his wife by a convicted gem dealer, as pressure mounts on the ANC-led government to address corruption allegations.
Mashatile was fined R10,000 by parliament’s ethics committee for not declaring the gift, whose value remains undisclosed. The diamond came from Louis Liebenberg, who was jailed in October for theft and money laundering.
Mashatile claimed he was unaware of the gift’s origin and returned it once he learned of its ties to Liebenberg. “The present was for my wife, not me, but I don’t want her accepting anything from questionable sources,” he told reporters.
The scandal adds to growing scrutiny over ANC officials in high-ranking positions. President Cyril Ramaphosa recently fired his higher education minister for lying about fraudulent appointments and suspended the police minister over corruption claims.
When asked about Mashatile’s case, Ramaphosa said the deputy president must provide answers. “We’ll wait for his explanation,” he said.
Mashatile also faces questions over an undeclared luxury Cape Town home reportedly worth over R28.9 Million. He denied ownership, stating, “That house belongs to my son-in-law. I just live there—what’s the issue?”
The controversy comes amid rising public frustration over corruption within the ANC, as Ramaphosa faces calls to take stronger action.